The Low Down on the Diprotodon
Rob Kirk

Rob Kirk’s presentation gave a fascinating insight into the world of megafauna, including our very own Toto the Diprotodon. Fossilised remains of many types of megafauna have been found across Australia, with several of these finds in South Australia. In 1893 a bone believed to be a Diprotodon bone was found near Hay Flat Road in Normanville. Megafauna footprints have been found in some areas, and megafauna tracks.
Ancient aboriginal cave paintings depict the hunting of large megafauna type animals, leading to the conclusion that aboriginals and megafauna co-existed for some time. This aligns with our knowledge that humans arrived on this continent about 65,000 years ago and megafauna became extinct about 43,000 years ago.

Scientists have suggested a number of reasons why megafauna became extinct. Although it occurred during a period of the earth’s cooling, this is unlikely to be the only factor as they had already lived through several cycles of earth’s warming and cooling. Fossils show the presence of disease which is likely to have been a contributing factor. A primary reason is thought to be that at this time the earth’s magnetic field went into a major reversal.

Rob encouraged the audience to visit the Yankalilla District Historical Museum where they can see Toto and learn more about megafauna. The Palaeontology Department of Flinders University assisted in the development of the Museum's display which includes various other fossilised bones and replica, and features a beautiful mural painted by Gay Robertson depicting other megafauna that roamed the local area 50,000 to 100,000 years ago.