This display features animals from Australia, home to some of the most unique animals in the world.
Emu
The flightless emu is the second largest living bird. As the national bird of Australia, it is found throughout the Australian mainland where it lives on deserts, plains, and in the forest, but not in the dense rainforest of the northeast. Outside of breeding season they live in small parties, sometimes banding together in large flocks searching for food and water. Emus run at speeds up to 30 mph for short distances. When cornered, they can deliver tremendous blows with their strong feet. The emu swims well and has good endurance. The powerful bill enables emus to consume almost anything. Emu, like the ostrich and rhea, are ratites or flightless birds that are inquisitive and may gobble up any small shiny object, such as keys, nails, coins or bottle caps.
Wallabies
Wallabies are marsupials. "Marsupial" is the name given to an order of mammals in which young are carried in a pouch (marsupium). The main difference between marsupials and other mammals is the growth and development of the young, both before and after birth. The young are born in an embryonic condition after a very brief gestation. Development is completed while the young are attached to teats, usually in a pouch. Wallabies are in the same genus as kangaroos, the main difference being size. The red-necked wallaby are the largest of the wallabies.
Wallabies inhabit Savannah woodlands, which are lightly treed but have dense brush cover. They rarely venture into open grassland, and can exist at any altitude where brush cover is found. Populations in Australia are depleted but not endangered. They are hunted by man for fur, meat, and sport. They are also killed to avoid competition with domestic herds and prevent crop destruction. Hardy and adaptable, the wallaby does well in captivity.