Penambol Conservation Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Penambol Conservation ParkSouth Australia |
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IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
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 Penambol Conservation Park
Location in South Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Mount Gambier |
| Established | 4 November 1993 |
| Area | 1.8 km2 (0.7 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Department for Environment and Water |
| Website | Penambol Conservation Park |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
Penambol Conservation Park is a special protected area in the Australian state of South Australia. It is located in the south-east part of the state. The park is about 22 kilometers (about 14 miles) south-east of the city of Mount Gambier. This park helps protect important plants and animals, along with unique natural features.
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Penambol Conservation Park: A Special Place
Penambol Conservation Park was created to protect a unique part of South Australia. It covers an area of 1.8 square kilometers (about 0.7 square miles). The park is managed by the Department for Environment and Water.
Why is Penambol Conservation Park Protected?
The land for the park was set aside for conservation in 1984. It officially became the Penambol Conservation Park on November 4, 1993. This was done under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The park's main goal is to protect its natural environment.
The name "Penambol" comes from the Booandik language. It means "Stringybark Forest." This name was chosen in 1987.
Unique Landforms: Karst Features
The park sits on an old sand dune system. It has three very interesting natural features called karst features. These are formed when water dissolves rock, creating caves and sinkholes.
One of the most notable features is a large sinkhole. It is known locally as the Caroline Sinkhole. A sinkhole is a hole in the ground that forms when the roof of a cave collapses.
Plants of Penambol Conservation Park
The park is home to different types of plants. Most of the park is covered by an "open woodland." This means trees are spread out, allowing light to reach the ground.
- Messmate stringybark trees are common here.
- Under these trees, you can find smaller plants. These include clover glycine, Derwent speedwell, golden-tip, hop wattle, ivy-leaved violet, rough bush-pea, and tiger-orchid.
Some parts of the park were once cleared for farming. In these areas, you might see introduced grass species. However, native trees like blackwood are starting to grow back.
Animals of Penambol Conservation Park
Penambol Conservation Park is also a home for many animals. Some of these animals are important to the local area.
- Mammals you might find include the bush rat, common brushtail possum, common wombat, eastern grey kangaroo, red-necked wallaby, ring tailed possum, short-beaked echidna, and yellow-bellied glider.
- The park is also important for birds. Two bird species found here were considered "rare" in South Australia in 1992. These are the gang-gang cockatoo and the red-tailed black cockatoo.
How Penambol Conservation Park is Classified
The park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area. This means it is a protected area where natural resources can be used sustainably. This allows for conservation while also allowing some human activities that don't harm the environment.
