Why the wildlife in this Indonesian province feels more Australian than Asian

Nature · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Deep within the dense tropical rainforests of Papua, the animals you encounter belong to a different world. Despite being part of Indonesia, the province’s fauna reflects the Australian region, featuring egg-laying mammals and flightless birds that seem out of place in Southeast Asia.

The province of Papua, located on the western half of New Guinea, is a land of dramatic geological and biological transitions. The northern coastal lowlands are physically separated from the interior by the Van Rees and Foerm (Gauttier) ranges, with the latter reaching elevations of approximately 7,320 feet (2,230 meters). To the south, the landscape rises into the Maoke Mountains, a 400-mile segment of the island's central highlands. This rugged terrain creates diverse habitats, ranging from mangrove forests along the west coast to tropical montane forests in the higher elevations.

Because Papua lies within the Australian faunal region, its biodiversity is distinct from the mainland of Southeast Asia. Visitors might find marsupials like tree kangaroos and cuscuses, or even monotremes such as various echidnas. The birdlife is equally specialized, featuring cassowaries, birds-of-paradise, and bowerbirds. This biological uniqueness is matched by a complex human landscape; while the interior is predominantly home to Indigenous communities speaking various Papuan languages, the coastal areas, particularly the capital Jayapura, host significant immigrant populations from Java, Sulawesi, and the Moluccas.

The province's political geography has also undergone significant recent shifts. Following an administrative restructuring in 2022, the former, larger Papua province was divided into four separate provinces. The current province now occupies the northeastern portion of Indonesian New Guinea and includes islands like Biak and Sorenarwa. Despite these administrative changes, the region maintains a special autonomous status within Indonesia, featuring unique governance structures like the Papuan People's Assembly, which incorporates tribal chiefs and religious leaders to represent local customs.

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