Native Wildlife of the Cairns Region, Australia

The tropical rainforests and coastal areas around Cairns harbor iconic species:

1. Southern Cassowary – Large, flightless bird (up to 1.9 m, 75 kg) with vivid blue/red neck; frugivorous but territorial and dangerous.
2. Lumholtz's Tree-Kangaroo – Arboreal marsupial, herbivorous, vulnerable due to habitat loss.
3. Agile Wallaby – Small kangaroo, social, diurnal, found in rainforests and woodlands.
4. Koala – Eucalyptus specialist, arboreal, vulnerable, restricted to eucalypt forests.
5. Platypus – Egg-laying, semi-aquatic mammal with duck-like bill; carnivorous, near-threatened.

These species highlight the region's unique biodiversity.