What an incredible effort from the Australian fur seal this year! Swimming all the way to position number 4 in 2023’s Australian Mammal of the Year, the largest of all fur seal species is a force to be reckoned with – in both the water and the competition.
With voting for our Top 3 finally open, we’ve now arrived at the home stretch. But, unlike previous rounds, you’ve got a little longer to support your favourite – 70 hours to rally as many of your friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances to vote.
This final voting round will remain open until 10am AEST on Thursday 24 August. Then, we’ll scrutineer the votes, to make sure no anomalous voting has occurred, and crown our winner (and the runner ups) at 12pm AEST on Thursday 24 August!
In no particular order, here is our Top 3
Gilbert’s Potoroo (Potorous gilbertii)
The Gilbert’s Potoroo secured 56.5% of support in in “Woodland Wanderers”. After missing from the records for 120 years and thought extinct, they came “back from the dead” when rediscovered in 1994.
Dingo (Canis dingo or Canis familiaris)
Our charismatic but controversial canid made it to the Top 10 with 32.6% of the vote in “Snow Patrol: Alpine Adventurers”. They play important ecological roles as Australia’s largest land-based top predator.
Golden-tipped bat (Phoniscus papuensis)
The golden-tipped bat made a glittering impression on voters with almost half of the votes in “The Cool South: Forest Fossickers”. They roost in the bottom of suspended bird nests, excising a chamber below the nest where they happily freeload.
