Nuyts Archipelago Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nuyts Archipelago Conservation Park South Australia
IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
Nuyts Archipelago Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Ceduna
Established	16 March 1967
Area	88.62 km2 (34.2 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

The Nuyts Archipelago Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia, a state in Australia. It's made up of two main islands: Eyre Island and St Peter Island. These islands are part of the Nuyts Archipelago, which is a group of islands located off the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula.

The park is about 10 kilometers south of Ceduna (for Eyre Island) and 25 kilometers south-east of Ceduna (for St Peter Island). It's a place where nature is kept safe and sound.

History of the Park

The Nuyts Archipelago Conservation Park has a long history of being protected.

Early Protection Efforts

The first part of the park to be protected was Eyre Island. This happened on 16 March 1967. It was set aside to protect the animals living there. Later that same year, on 4 November 1967, other islands like the Franklin Islands and Goat Island were also protected.

Becoming a Conservation Park

On 27 April 1972, all these protected areas were officially combined. They became what we now know as the Nuyts Archipelago Conservation Park. This was done under a special law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

Expanding the Park's Borders

Over the years, more land was added to the park. On 14 January 1988, St Peter Island became part of the park. In 1991, even the land between high tide and low tide was added to help protect the coastal areas. An even smaller island near Eyre Island was added in 1993.

Changes to Park Boundaries

In 2011, some parts of the conservation park changed. Most of the park, except for Eyre Island and St Peter Island, became part of a new area called the Nuyts Archipelago Wilderness Protection Area. This means those parts are now protected in a different way. Since 2012, the ocean around Eyre Island and St Peter Island has also been protected. This area is called the Nuyts Archipelago Marine Park.

Park Classification

The Nuyts Archipelago Conservation Park is very important for nature.

Strict Nature Reserve Status

This park is classified as an IUCN Category Ia protected area. This means it's a Strict Nature Reserve. In these areas, nature is kept as untouched as possible. Human visits are usually limited to scientific research or monitoring. The main goal is to protect the natural environment and its wildlife without much human interference.