Nuyts Reef Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nuyts Reef Conservation Park South Australia
IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
Nuyts Reef Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Fowlers Bay
Established	16 March 1967
Area	47 ha (120 acres)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Nuyts Reef Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It is linked to Nuyts Reef, which is a group of small reefs located off the state's western coast. This area is found in the Great Australian Bight, about 29 kilometers west-south-west of Fowlers Bay.

What is Nuyts Reef Conservation Park?

Nuyts Reef Conservation Park is a place where nature is kept safe. It was created to protect important wildlife and their homes. The park covers an area of about 47 hectares, which is like 116 football fields.

Why is Nuyts Reef Protected?

The main reason Nuyts Reef is protected is to keep the Australian sea lion safe. These amazing animals use the reefs as a place to have their babies and raise them. Protecting their breeding habitat helps make sure sea lions can continue to thrive.

The land that makes up this park was first set aside on March 16, 1967. It was called a Fauna Conservation Reserve. Later, on April 27, 1972, it became Nuyts Reef Conservation Park. This change happened under a law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

In 1991, even more land was added to the park. This extra protection covered the area between high tide and low tide. This helps protect all parts of the reef environment.

Nature at Nuyts Reef

In 1980, experts described Nuyts Reef as a group of five small reefs. These reefs are made of granite rock. Some of them are hit by strong ocean waves during storms.

The reefs do not have any plants growing on them. Because they are far away from other places and no new animal species have been brought there, the natural environment has stayed very well preserved. It's a perfect spot for sea lions and seabirds.

Special Protection Status

Nuyts Reef Conservation Park is classified as a Category Ia protected area by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. This is the highest level of protection. It means the park is a "Strict Nature Reserve." These reserves are kept as wild as possible, with very little human activity allowed. This helps protect the unique plants and animals that live there.

In 1980, the park was also listed on something called the Register of the National Estate. This register used to keep track of important natural and cultural places in Australia.