Wild State

Permanent exhibition

Recommended for all ages

Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Level 4

Free

About

Queensland is a wild state, full of unique animals and habitats. It has more animal species than anywhere else in Australia and it is also one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth.

From our remote outback to our pristine coastline and the oceans beyond, Queensland is defined by its distinctive environments and animals that are as rare and unusual as they are beautiful.

Wild State gallery takes visitors through five breathtaking environments — the arid outback, iconic eucalypt forest, tropical rainforest, sun-drenched coastal zones and teeming marine environments.

The gallery highlights the extreme beauty, yet fragile state of each environment. It explores how we, the human race, need to protect and preserve our precious natural world for future generations.

Animals and Habitats

Queensland is the most biodiverse state of Australia, with 70% of Australia’s mammal species, 80% of birds and 50% of reptiles, and frogs and plant species. Such a diversity of animals exists because Queensland has a broad range of environmental conditions—from arid deserts to wet tropics rainforests—that produce unique habitats or places for these animals to live.

To survive, animals have adapted to these diverse habitats. As these habitats change, animals either need to adapt to these changes or move to a more suitable habitat (if one exists), otherwise they will die and potentially the species becomes extinct.

These habitats are shaped by a number of forces, with the availability and movement of water being the pivotal force.

Wild State gallery is broadly divided into five types of habitats:

Arid Outback
Open Forest
Rainforest
Coastal and intertidal
Marine.

Visit as a school

School bookings form

Wild State highlights Queensland’s amazing array of diverse habitats and unpacks why this state has such a huge diversity of animals. As you enter the gallery, on show are the five major types of habitats in Queensland: Arid Outback, Open Forest, Rainforest, Coastal, and Marine. These habitats are ancient, unique and are highly vulnerable. They are shaped by a number of forces - with the availability and movement of water being the pivotal force.

To survive, animals have adapted to these diverse habitats and this has given rise to the huge biodiversity in Queensland. Queensland is Australia’s most biodiverse state. Within each habitat in the exhibition, there will be a showcase of animal specimens, images, interactives and multimedia.

The following questions may be useful in stimulating learning discussions:

Why does Queensland have such a huge diversity of animals?
How have animals adapted to survive in their habitat?
What is the role of water in shaping these habitats?
How do humans impact on these habitats and ultimately the animals that live there?
What is the role of scientists and the community in relation to our natural world?

Visiting as a group

This exhibition is recommended for students in years 3 – 12. Younger students will also be drawn to the diversity of animals on show. Please enter in small groups. Student preparation prior to entry is recommended. Entry to this gallery is free.

Teacher Resource

The Wild State Teacher Resource contains an overview of the gallery, key teaching points for each habitat, a glossary and curriculum links.

Wild State supports components of the Australian Curriculum particularly in Science F - 10, Senior Biology, Senior Environmental Science and Senior Geography learning areas.

Detailed curriculum links are below:

Virtual tour

Explore Wild State featuring Queensland's immense biological value and diversity from anywhere in the world with our virtual tour. Navigate around the exhibition to view the featured environments and specimens.