KAKADU NATIONAL PARK By Satwinder Kumar

Kakadu is a national park in a northern territory of Australia, 171 km southeast of Darwin. It covers an area of 19,804 km square. Kakadu national park is located within the alligator rivers region of the northern territory of Australia. Kakadu is a wild place, and its landscapes undergo spectacular changes throughout the year. Kakadu national park is the most beautiful park in Australia. WHAT IS KAKADU NATIONAL PARK ?

Discover a world heritage listed national park fed by pristine river systems and alive with the call of over 280 bird species. From floodplains and billabongs to rugged stone country, the diverse landscapes of Kakadu and Arnhem land are home to one fifth of Australia's mammals and over 2000 plant species. NATURE AND WILDLIFE

WET AND DRY The biodiversity of Kakadu national parks internationally recognised wetlands has to be witnessed first hand. In the wet season the floodplains surge, creating a spectacle of colour and wildlife. In the drier months, constricting habitats create a flurry of bird activity at places like famous mamukala wetlands. Specially designed bird hides offer rare views of an aquatic wonderland where thousands of migratory magpie geese flourish. Hit the boardwalk and venture into the floodplains to see jacana, egrets and jabiru from the viewing platform on home billabong.

BILLABONG CULTURE Kakadu is alive with billabong. The best known of these is yellow water. Take a boat cruise to spot mighty saltwater crocodiles hiding amongst spectacular pink waterlilies, and see pandanus and paperbark lining the bank. Local indigenous guides offer an insight into how the billabongs flora and fauna have sustained the Bininj and Munnguy way of life for thousands of years.

STONE FREE Kakadus rugged stone country borders the remote wilderness of Arnhem Land and provides awesome views for the intrepid hiker. This rocky landscape stretches from ubirr in the north to nourlangie in the south and features ancient aboriginal rock art. This rugged terrain is also home to endemic bird species like the hooded parrot that lays its eggs in the large termite mounds of the region. The black wallaroo and the giant cave gecko are other locals that like to stay to home.

INTRODUCED SPECIES Many foreign species has been brought to Kakadu, these species include buffalo, cattle, pigs, dogs, cats and most domestic pets. They might pose threats to Kakadus environment if there are too much of these species. The danger of introducing these animals to Kakadu is that they will consume most of the foods the other animal needs. Overtime, the local animals will die.

ROCKING OUT WITH ABORIGINAL ART Kakadu is home to one of the worlds highest concentration of aboriginal art.see rock crevices cut by dreamtime ancestor at Nourlangie Rock. Or view a painting of Lightning Man, the Dreamtime ancestor who still controls the violent wet season lightning storms, in the nearby Anbangang Gallery. Check out a painting of the Rainbow Serpent and some of the worlds finest examples of X-ray art at Ubirr Rock. Youll see hand prints of animals, hunters and Dreamtime figures, as well as shelters, stone tools, grindstones, rock art and ochre for ceremonial paint. Learn how the art depicts Kakadus social, cultural and natural history on a guided tour or through the interpretative signs.

IN TUNE WITH THE SEASONS You need to visit Kakadu more than once to appreciate its dramatically different seasons. The local Bininj people have classified six, beginning with the thundering waterfalls and dazzling lightening of the gudjewg monsoon season between January and March through to the hot dry weather of the Gurrung months in August and September. See blossoming paperbarks next to billabongs filled with waterbirds in the Banggerreng season of April. Enjoy pleasant temperatures and clear skies in the Wurrgeng cold weather months between June and August. Soak up this changing scenery on a sweeping flight over the landscape or up close on a bushwalk, billabong or river cruise.

SALTWATER CROCODILES Of the 23 crocodile species around the world, the Australian saltwater crocodile (ginga) is the largest, and most dangerous, reaching lengths in excess of six metres. It lives in both freshwater and estuarine waterways and is a shrewd and aggressive hunter. The shy, freshwater crocodile (madjarrki) is a smaller species found in the billabongs, plunge pools and freshwater rivers of Kakadu. If you are worried you might not spot one of these mighty creatures, don't be, there is one crocodile for every human in the Top End. Whether or not you can be buddies is another story. BY satwinder Kumar