The national animal of Australia is the Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus), the world's largest marsupial and the most recognisable wildlife emblem of the continent. The kangaroo appears on Australia's national coat of arms alongside the emu, and no other country claims it as a symbol because wild kangaroos live nowhere else on Earth. While Australia has never passed a law formally naming an official national animal, the Red Kangaroo is universally accepted as the country's living emblem.
Why the Red Kangaroo Represents Australia
The kangaroo's status as Australia's national animal rests on both biology and symbolism. It is endemic to Australia, meaning it evolved there and is found in the wild nowhere else, which makes it a uniquely national creature in a way few emblems can match. The animal also carries a powerful piece of folklore: kangaroos cannot easily hop backwards because of the shape of their large hind legs and stiff tail. This forward-only movement has long been read as a metaphor for a nation that keeps progressing and does not retreat.
That symbolism was made official in 1908, when the kangaroo and the emu were placed as supporters on either side of the Commonwealth coat of arms. Both animals were chosen partly because neither moves comfortably in reverse, reinforcing the theme of advancement. The kangaroo has since become shorthand for Australia itself, appearing on the tail of Qantas aircraft, on currency, military insignia, sporting jerseys, and countless logos.
The Red Kangaroo Up Close
The Red Kangaroo is the largest living marsupial and the biggest land mammal native to Australia. Dominant males, sometimes called "boomers," can stand up to 1.8 metres tall and weigh as much as 90 kilograms, while females are smaller and often have a bluish-grey coat that gives them the nickname "blue flyer." Their build is engineered for efficient travel across vast distances:
- Powerful hind legs let them reach speeds of up to 56 km/h.
- A single bound can cover around 8 metres.
- A long, muscular tail acts as a counterbalance at speed and as a "fifth leg" when moving slowly.
Like all marsupials, Red Kangaroos give birth to tiny, underdeveloped young. A newborn joey is roughly the size of a jellybean and crawls unaided into its mother's pouch, where it continues to grow for several months before venturing out.
Where Red Kangaroos Live
Red Kangaroos are spread across most of mainland Australia, concentrated in the arid and semi-arid interior known as the outback. They avoid the wetter northern and eastern coastal strips and the extreme southwest, favouring the open grasslands and scrub of central and western New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. As herbivores, they graze mainly at night and rest through the heat of the day, gathering in groups called mobs that can range from a handful of animals to several hundred. To learn more about the continent they call home, see our australia country guide.
Conservation and Abundance
Far from being endangered, the Red Kangaroo is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a population usually estimated at 30 to 50 million individuals. Numbers actually rose after European settlement, because the spread of pastoral farming created new watering points and cleared grassland that suited grazing kangaroos. They are so plentiful that they are commercially harvested under government-regulated quotas for lean, high-protein meat and for leather. It is often noted that Australia is home to more kangaroos than people.
Other Symbols of Australia
While the kangaroo is the headline national animal, Australia's identity is shared with several other emblems. The emu, a tall flightless bird, stands opposite the kangaroo on the coat of arms. The golden wattle is the official national floral emblem, and green and gold are the national colours. Iconic creatures such as the koala, the platypus, and the kookaburra are also strongly associated with Australia, but it is the Red Kangaroo that holds pride of place as the country's national animal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the kangaroo officially Australia's national animal?
Australia has never enacted a law formally declaring a national animal, but the Red Kangaroo is universally recognised as one because of its place on the national coat of arms and its unique status as an Australian endemic.
What is the difference between the kangaroo and the koala as Australian symbols?
The Red Kangaroo is regarded as the national animal and features on the coat of arms, while the koala is a beloved national icon and tourism symbol but does not hold the same official emblematic role.
Why do the kangaroo and emu appear together on the coat of arms?
Both animals were placed on the 1908 Commonwealth coat of arms in part because neither can move backwards easily, symbolising a nation that always moves forward.
How fast can a Red Kangaroo move?
Red Kangaroos can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h over short distances and clear leaps of around 8 metres, using their tail for balance at high speed.
