Animals of Raakajlim

Mildura Ogyris butterfly

Mildura Ogyris butterfly

Invertebrates

We look after possibly the largest population of the Mildura Ogyris butterfly in the world!

Ogyris butterflies have a strange, ancient and highly specialised association with ants. The Mildura Ogyris is myrmecophagous (ant-eating), relying on a single species of large nocturnal sugar ant: Camponotus terebrans. The butterfly eggs are deposited near the entrance to the ant nest and the entire butterfly larval stage is completed within the nest as a predator of immature ants.

 
 
Splendid Fairywren

Splendid Fairywren

Birds

The diversity of birds on Raakajlim, over 100 species, includes the nationally threatened Regent Parrots, which visit daily throughout Spring and Summer. They feed on wattle and saltbush seeds. Raakajlim is within 5 km of nesting sites along the Murray River, making it a key location to support breeding colonies of the parrot.

We regularly see Pink Cockatoos (threatened in Victoria) which nest nearby, are visited by a White-bellied Sea Eagle and dozens of colorful parrots and wrens. We monitor birds quarterly for Birdlife Australia.

Red kangaroos

Red kangaroos

Reptiles and mammals

We have not undertaken any surveys for native animals, but we would expect similar mammals to those found in Hattah Kulkyne National Park: Mitchells Hopping Mice, Little Pygmy Possum, Mallee Ningaui, Fat-tailed Dunnart. In only one night with an anabat call-recording logger, we identified seven species of bat.

We have had chance encounters with a dozen or so species of reptiles - lots of lizards!