Why are Kakadu's floodplains important for wildlife?
Kakadu's tropical floodplains are vital because each wet season they become vast wetlands, feeding and sheltering huge numbers of birds, fish, crocodiles and other wildlife in northern Australia.
During the wet season, from about November to April, monsoon rains flood the plains of the South Alligator, East Alligator and Wildman rivers. Grasses and water plants grow rapidly, and fish spread across the shallow water to breed.
As the dry season arrives, the water shrinks back into billabongs such as Yellow Water. Animals crowd around the remaining water, making it one of the best times for wildlife viewing.
Birds and crocodiles
Kakadu's wetlands support hundreds of thousands of magpie geese, along with egrets, jabirus, brolgas and whistling ducks. The park is home to about a third of Australia's bird species.
Saltwater crocodiles are common in the rivers and billabongs. Barramundi, an important fish for people and wildlife, migrate between fresh and salt water.
Kakadu's wetlands are listed under the Ramsar Convention as internationally important. Rising sea levels and invasive plants such as mimosa threaten them.
Did You Know?
Bininj people harvest magpie geese and their eggs, which have long been an important food source.