Torrens Island Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Torrens Island Conservation Park South Australia
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Torrens Island Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Port Adelaide
Established	28 November 1963
Area	6.35 km2 (2.5 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Torrens Island Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It's located on Torrens Island, which is part of the Adelaide area. The park is about 17 kilometers north-northwest of Adelaide and 3.9 kilometers north-northeast of Port Adelaide.

This park helps protect important natural habitats. It covers most of Torrens Island, except for areas used by the old quarantine station and power stations. It also includes some land near Garden Island that appears at low tide.

What is Torrens Island Conservation Park?

Torrens Island Conservation Park is a place where nature is protected. It was created to keep important plants and animals safe. The park covers about 6.35 square kilometers of land. It is managed by the Department for Environment and Water.

How the Park Was Created

The park has had a few different names over the years.

• On 28 November 1963, a part of the island was first set aside as a "wild-life reserve." This meant it was a special place for animals.
• Then, on 9 November 1967, it became the "Torrens Island National Park Reserve."
• Finally, on 27 April 1972, it was officially named the "Torrens Island Conservation Park." This happened under a new law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.
• More land was added to the park on 23 January 2014. This helped make the protected area even bigger.

Amazing Plants and Animals

The park is a very important place for nature. It has unique types of land and many different species.

Special Plants

The park is home to a special type of land called a salt-marsh. This is where the land is often covered by salty water. The plants here are very tough and can grow in salty conditions.

• You can find low woodlands of Avicennia marina, also known as white mangroves.
• There are also low-shrublands of plants like Salicornia and Arthrocnemum.
• More than 30 different kinds of salt-tolerant plants have been found in the park.

Wonderful Wildlife

The salt marshes in the park are full of life. They have many small creatures like worms and shrimps. These tiny animals are a vital food source for fish, which helps keep the Port River healthy for fishing. The park is also a paradise for birds. Over 40 different bird species visit or live here. Some of these birds are rare or uncommon, especially during summer.

• You might see waders like the Tringa terek (terek sandpiper).
• Other visitors include the Limosa lapponica (bar-tailed godwit).
• The Numenius minutus (whimbrel) and Pluvialis dominica (lesser golden plover) also come here.
• The park protects important areas for species like the Australasian bittern, the fairy tern, and the white-bellied sea eagle. These are vulnerable or threatened species.

Even though the park is mostly undisturbed, rabbits can sometimes cross from the mainland at low tide. They are quite common on the island.

Protecting the Area

Torrens Island Conservation Park is part of a larger effort to protect nature.

• It is fully within the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, a special place for dolphins.
• It is also partly within the Barker Inlet – St Kilda Aquatic Reserve, which protects marine life.

The park is recognized internationally as an IUCN Category III protected area. This means it's important for its natural features.