Why Australia?

Crimson Rosella

Platypus

I am reading a chapter on Australia in one of my text books these days. For every part of the world, the authors write little side points of interest: missionaries, foods, plants, and animals, among other things. Like I said, I’m reading about Australia and the Pacific Island nations now, and they had a section about animals there. As you probably know, that area has some pretty exotic animals, but I didn’t realize how many animals there were that are both exotic (meaning, in this case, interesting) and found nowhere else in the world.

For instance, there’s the old classic, the duck billed platypus. Then there’s the echidna, the crimson rosella (bird), and the emu. According to my book, those species are all only found in and around Australia.

Compared to Australia, the U.S. seems pretty boring. We don’t have any really exotic animals. Either that, or I’m not aware of it because I’ve lived among them and I’ve read about them.

I don’t know; maybe the woodchuck seems exotic to Australians!