Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park is in Australia's Northern Territory, about 171 kilometres southeast of Darwin. It covers about 19,800 square kilometres, nearly 200 kilometres from north to south, and is the second-largest national park in Australia. It is a World Heritage Site.

Kakadu is rich in wildlife, from wetlands to rocky escarpments and woodlands. It also holds some of the world's finest Aboriginal rock art, at sites such as Ubirr. The Aboriginal traditional owners have lived on this land for around 60,000 years and manage the park together with Parks Australia. Wetlands, rocky ridges and woodlands give many different animals a place to live.

People of Kakadu

Most of Kakadu belongs to its Aboriginal traditional owners, who have cared for the land for roughly 60,000 years. Rock paintings in the park record their stories, hunting, animals and spirits, and some are thought to be about 20,000 years old. Since the 1970s the area has gradually been given protected status. Today the owners and Parks Australia look after it jointly.

Wildlife and new challenges

Kakadu has a wide range of habitats and animals. Water buffalo brought in during the late 19th century became wild and now harm the environment, along with feral pigs, cats, foxes and rabbits. These invaders compete with native species. The park is protected by Australian law, and park rangers and traditional owners work to look after its fragile ecosystems. The rock art and the wetlands together make Kakadu a place of both culture and nature.

On the globe

The toy globe marks Kakadu in Australia's Northern Territory. Zoom in to find the park's wetlands and rock country.