Karakamia Sanctuary facts for kids
Karakamia Sanctuary is a special nature reserve in Western Australia. It's about 2.75 square kilometers in size. That's like 275 football fields! It's located near a town called Chidlow. This sanctuary is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northeast of Perth. It sits within the Jarrah forest of the Darling Scarp area. The Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) owns and takes care of Karakamia.
How Karakamia Started
Martin Copley bought the land for Karakamia in 1991. He then set it up as a sanctuary in 1992. This made Karakamia the very first property of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC). Since then, the sanctuary has grown bigger. More land next to it has been bought to add to the reserve. Most of the land was never cut down for farming or building. But some parts had been cleared or logged in the past. Now, new trees are being planted in those areas.
Land and Weather
Karakamia is on a flat, high area called a plateau. This plateau is made of a type of soil called laterite. Small streams flow through the land during winter. The weather here is like a Mediterranean climate. This means it has wet winters and dry summers. On average, about 850 millimeters (33 inches) of rain falls each year.
Amazing Animals of Karakamia
Karakamia Sanctuary works hard to protect its native animals. They keep out animals that don't belong there. These include predators like foxes and cats. They also keep out plant-eating animals like rabbits. A special fence now surrounds the entire property. This fence helps keep the native animals safe.
Many native mammals used to live here a long time ago. They have now been successfully brought back to Karakamia. These animals include the woylie, the quenda, and the tammar wallaby. You can also find the quokka, the numbat, and the western ringtail possum here. A very important bird that lives in the forest here is the red-tailed black-cockatoo.
Plants and Ecosystems
Karakamia has many different types of forest and woodland. Besides Jarrah forest, you can find other trees. These include marri, wandoo, and blackbutt trees. There are also areas of heathland and shrubland. Along the streams, you'll see flooded gum trees and sedge plants. More than 260 different types of plants have been found and recorded in Karakamia.
