Tumby Island Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tumby Island Conservation Park South Australia
IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
Tumby Island Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Tumby Bay
Established	9 January 1969
Area	48 ha (120 acres)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Tumby Island Conservation Park is a special protected area in the Australian state of South Australia. It's located on Tumby Island, which is in Spencer Gulf. The park is about 5 kilometers southeast of the town of Tumby Bay. This park helps protect the island's natural environment and the animals that live there.

Discover Tumby Island Conservation Park

Tumby Island Conservation Park covers the entire Tumby Island. It's a small island, but it's very important for nature. The park helps keep the island safe for many seabirds. These birds use the island to find food and to rest.

What is a Conservation Park?

A conservation park is a type of protected area. This means it's a place where nature is kept safe from harm. The goal is to protect plants, animals, and their homes. Tumby Island Conservation Park is listed as an IUCN Category Ia protected area. This is a very strict category. It means the park is a "Strict Nature Reserve." These areas are mainly for scientific research or protecting large wilderness areas. Human visits are usually limited to keep the area as natural as possible.

How Tumby Island Became Protected

Tumby Island first became a protected area on 9 January 1969. Back then, it was called a "fauna conservation reserve." This was done under a law called the Fauna Conservation Act 1964-1965.

Later, on 27 April 1972, the reserve changed its name. It became the Tumby Island Conservation Park. This happened under a new law, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

On 19 December 1991, even more land was added to the park. This extra land helped protect the area between the high tide and low tide marks. As of 2018, the park covers about 48 hectares.

Why is Tumby Island Special?

The main reason Tumby Island is protected is because it's a small island that provides important habitat for seabirds. It gives them a safe place to feed and to roost (rest or sleep). In 1980, Tumby Island Conservation Park was also listed on the Register of the National Estate. This was a list of important natural and cultural places in Australia. That list is no longer used today.