Giant Ancient Marsupial Roamed Australia

Australia's prehistoric past included the colossal Diprotodon optatum, the largest marsupial known to exist. Roughly the size of a minivan, this ancient creature possessed formidable jaws and subsisted on a diet of grass, leaves, and bark, consuming up to 20 kilos daily.

These relatives of modern kangaroos and koalas roamed Australia until approximately 40,000 years ago. The same climatic shifts that led to dinosaur extinction dried out Australia's forests, creating grasslands that could sustain such enormous marsupials.

An exhibition titled 'Surviving Australia' is set to spotlight these incredible megafauna. The display aims to bring Australia's unique prehistoric animal heritage to public attention, moving beyond the more commonly known dinosaur narratives.