Why is the kangaroo the Australian symbol?

Answer 1

The kangaroo is not an official symbol of Australia.

However, it is strongly associated with Australia, and often erroneously thought to be a symbol because the kangaroo is such a unique and interesting animal, native to Australia, and was found nowhere else on Earth when Australia was discovered.

It was believed to have been chosen to be on the Australian coat of arms, along with the emu, because neither creature has ever been known to easily take a backward step.

Answer 2

The kangaroo is not the official symbol of Australia, as Australia does not have an official faunal emblem.

However, both the kangaroo and emu are considered to be unofficial emblems of Australia because neither creature can take a backward step, because of the shape of their legs and the way their joints work. This symbolises Australia's advancement.

Both creatures are also quite common on the open plains. The kangaroo in particular is easily recognisable to overseas tourists. The sight of a kangaroo in full bounding flight is synonymous with freedom, independence and many other qualities that Australians admire.

Answer 3

The kangaroo is not officially a symbol of Australia. However, it is often associated with Australia because it is easily recognisable, so for this reason it is used to promote Australia.

Answer 4

Two simple answers:

1. To raise public awareness of this endangered creature, and to raise funds to help support the recovery programme for the bilby.

2. Bilbies are native, and suit the Australian environment perfectly; rabbits are not native, and are an ecological disaster in Australia.

In Australia, the development of the Easter Bilby has been a protracted campaign by many groups concerned with preserving the bilby, which is critically endangered. The idea of an Easter bilby has actually been around since the 1970s. One of its sources may be a book entitled Billy the Aussie Easter Bilby being launched by author Rose-Marie Dusting, in Adelaide in 1979 (sources indicate she conceived the concept of the story as a child). Dusting donated a percentage of the sales of her book to conservation of the bilby, and has continued to support effort to raise awareness of Australia's endangered species. There are other claims of small groups implementing the concept of an Easter bilby, all around the same time, i.e. late 1970s to early 1980s.

The first chocolate bilbies in Australia were produced in 1993 by South Australian companies Haigh's Chocolates, Melba's Chocolates and Cottage Box Chocolates, and were an initiative of the Anti-Rabbit research Fund of Australia (now Foundation for Rabbit-free Australia). The purpose of this campaign was to highlight the destruction caused since the introduction of rabbits in Australia in the 1860s.

Answer 5

The bilby is no more a symbol of Australia than any of the country's other native animals. Its plight as one of Australia's critically endangered species has gained more prominence since the introduction of the Easter bilby, chocolate confectionery which has become a competitor to the Easter Bunny, and arguably Australia's new symbol of Easter. In Australia, the development of the Easter Bilby has been a protracted campaign by many groups concerned with preserving the critically endangered bilby. The idea of an Easter bilby has actually been around since the 1970s. One of its sources may be a book entitled Billy the Aussie Easter Bilby being launched by author Rose-Marie Dusting, in Adelaide in 1979. Dusting donated a percentage of the sales of her book to conservation of the bilby. there are other claims of small groups implementing the concept of an Easter bilby, all around the same time, i.e. late 1970s to early 1980s.

Answer 6

Australia does not have any national animal symbol or emblem.

The Golden Wattle is the national floral emblem of Australia.