Each country has its rules and customs that we also call traditions and are part of the culture that identify those countries.
Australia is a country, island continent or whatever you want to call it that has a very varied native fauna with unique animals that we only find in their territories, at least in their natural habitat like the kangaroo and others that are very deadly like the venomous vipers and crocodiles that you describe here.
I clarify that I have never been to that country and what I know is from what I have studied, to teach my Geography classes.
In the case of what you publish is very interesting and, above all, this ritual that you have with the children and the animals I see it as an act of love and respect that we should feel for the animals that, after all, as you say, like us, also live in this home we call Earth.
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It's an interesting place and it makes sense to appreciate it, and treat it with respect.