Wallabies, wildflowers and other wonders

Sign in the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, Victoria

2007 Victorian trip report #8

During our walk in the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens in Victoria we came across a solitary Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor. It was being rather secretive and shy, and wouldn’t come out of the bushes and fully show us his beautiful markings. We had seen this species of wallaby before in this, and other, locations.

This medium sized wallaby is found along the entire east coast of Australia and in southern Victoria. It can also be found in the extreme south east corner of South Australia. It has a wide range of preferred habitats, including forest, woodland, scrub, heathland and even tropical rainforests in the more northern parts of its range.

Swamp Wallaby in Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, Victoria

Alternative names: Black Wallaby, Black-tailed Wallaby

An interesting fact I gleaned from one of my field guides to the mammals of Australia is that this species is more diurnal than most macropods, and that it tends to be solitary and shy. Yep – that’s what we found.

While trying to sneak up on this shy wallaby to get a better shot, I had to be very disciplined and ignore the birds flitting around, all trying to distract me.

The photo below was taken nearby.

Tall Greenhood orchid in the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens