East Kangaroo Island Explained

East Kangaroo Island should not be confused with Kangaroo Island (Tasmania).

East Kangaroo Island
Map:Australia Tasmania
Map Width:280
Map Relief:1
Location:Bass Strait
Coordinates:-40.18°N 147.9°W
Archipelago:Big Green Group, part of the Furneaux Group
Area Ha:157
Country:Australia
Country Admin Divisions Title:State
Country Admin Divisions:Tasmania
Population:unpopulated

The East Kangaroo Island, part of the Big Green Group within the Furneaux Group, is a 157ha unpopulated limestone island with granite outcrops and dolerite dykes, located in the Bass Strait, west of the Flinders Island, in Tasmania, in south-eastern Australia.

Prior to its declaration as the East Kangaroo Island Nature Reserve, the island was previously used to graze sheep, with overgrazing causing severe erosion.[1] The island is part of the Chalky, Big Green and Badger Island Groups Important Bird Area.[2]

Fauna

Recorded breeding seabird and wader species are little penguin, short-tailed shearwater, Pacific gull, silver gull, sooty oystercatcher and crested tern. Cape Barren geese also breed on the island. Reptiles present include the metallic skink and White's skink. The only terrestrial mammal is the introduced House mouse.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; & Halley, Vanessa. (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart.
  2. Web site: IBA: Chalky, Big Green and Badger Island Groups . 14 June 2011 . Birdata . Birds Australia . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102341/http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm . 6 July 2011 . dmy .