From ambush by estuarine crocodile to tripping over an irritable death adder and tales of the unexpected red back on the dunny seat, Australian wildlife often risks being characterised as ‘best avoided’ unless of course you’re Crocodile Dundee or er… Steve Irwin. However, Bradt’s new full-colour Australian Wildlife guide transcends tabloid tosh to describe a remarkable continental ark of native fauna that collectively has more to fear from us than vice versa.

Stella Martin, author of Australian Wildlife, pulls no punches: ‘Australia has a woeful record of wildlife extinctions.’ Statistically Australia ranks near the top of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List for threatened species, second only to USA. Non-native predators such as cats and foxes combine with habitat-degrading rats, rabbits, camels and goats to push indigenous species to the margins of an already harsh environment. However, Martin continues, stating ‘The good news is that, with the low population density and vast size Australia’s human footprint is relatively light. Lessons from the past have been learnt and steps are being taken to repair the damage. 84% of mammals and over 45% or birds are found nowhere else in the world. Australia, in short, remains a very special place for wildlife.’
Australian Wildlife’s handy 200-page compendium contains over 250 colour photographs, tips to improve your own pictures, and features all major animal phyla from mammals to invertebrates. Full-colour maps highlight the country’s key destinations for wildlife spotting, and Australia’s remarkable range of species adaptation is described in the context of the landscape’s formation… So, what are you waiting for? If you’re interest in antipodean animals extends beyond that of the Bush Tucker Man and you’re not unnerved by reports of killer koalas, Australian Wildlife could be for you.

Stella Martin grew up in Northern Ireland, emigrating to Australia in 1990 and working for the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. She has written numerous freelance articles on travel and wildlife and in 2006 was runner-up in BBC Wildlife’s writing competition. For more background on Stella see http://www.stellabridgemartin.com

Title: Australian Wildlife
Author: Stella Martin
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides
Publication: July 2010
Price: £14.99
ISBN: 978 1 84162 324 5