Described first in 1804, the Australian rakali (or water rat) is a semi-aquatic rodent that looks a lot like an otter. Growing to 60 cm in length and weighing 600 grams it eats insects, fish and crustaceans.
Rakali is found in waterways, both salt and fresh, in the eastern states, and in small groups in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Curiosity
Some people mistake the rakali for a rat, and in times gone by they were hunted for their fur.
Intrigue
In Tasmania almost five years ago a wildlife carer named Corey Young first met a rakali when it turned up, unwell, in the reception of a hotel on Hobart's waterfront. He took it to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, cared for it and it was later released back into the wild. Corey has since started a campaign, Water Rat Awareness Day, to bring the rakali to the public's attention.
Conservation
The rakali is now a protected species.
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