Kangaroos are digging for water in the South Australian outback as the drought continues.

Key points: A holidaymaker spotted kangaroos digging for water in dried-up creek beds while holidaying in the Flinders Rangers, South Australia

A holidaymaker spotted kangaroos digging for water in dried-up creek beds while holidaying in the Flinders Rangers, South Australia Experts say the underground water would be cleaner for the animals and safer from pathogens than that left in puddles

Experts say the underground water would be cleaner for the animals and safer from pathogens than that left in puddles Kangaroos also use the digging technique to remove hot top soil and give them a cool place to lie in hot weather

While on holiday in the Flinders Ranges this September, Janice Osman Iseppi witnessed the impressive adaption technique.

"We'd just gone walking along looking at trees in a creek bed and we've noticed that they'd dug a little dugout and there was water there," she said.

Intrigued, she went back to fetch her "quite good" zoom lens.

"I sat right back and I thought, 'Well, they'll have to come in for water if this is what they're doing.' And that's exactly what they did," Ms Iseppi said.

Her patience paid off as she sat quietly while around 10 kangaroos came to drink at the hole.

The hole and kangaroo drinking from the water therein. ( Supplied: Janice Osman Iseppi )

"I had to sit there probably an hour or so to get the photo that I wanted," Ms Iseppi said.

"I didn't actually see them digging, but before they came in, you could see their claw marks."

Kangaroos dig for water

Kangaroos are known to dig for water in dry times.

Anne Goldizen, associate professor at the University of Queensland, suspects the kangaroo was digging for water, either because there were no other water sources available within its home range, or because the available standing water was dirty.

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"When water is only available in small pools of standing water, these pools tend to get muddy and very dirty from other animals' urine and faeces," Dr Goldizen said.

"This means that animals drinking from those puddles are likely to be exposed to pathogens.

"If they dig up water, that water should be much cleaner."

She said that African animals including, elephants, warthogs, baboons and zebras had also been reported digging for water.

Diana Fisher, also an associate professor at the University of Queensland, said kangaroos did need to drink but not very often.

"They drink less than cattle or sheep, or us — every couple of days is enough for them," Dr Fisher said.

Digging for water is not the only way kangaroos adapt to hot, dry conditions.

"Kangaroos use their paws to scrape hot sand away and make a 'hip hole' in the shade, exposing the cooler soil to lie in during the day when they are resting," Dr Fisher said.

Drought conditions continue

The Flinders Rangers has experienced severe rainfall deficiencies over an 18-month period, along with much of northern South Australia, New South Wales, south west and central north Western Australia, eastern Victoria and south-east Queensland.

Dryer than average conditions are expected to continue into January for most of Australia.

Although there may be some slight relief with, rain on the forecast for the south east this weekend.

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