Western River Wilderness Protection Area facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Western River Wilderness Protection Area South Australia
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
Western River Wilderness Protection Area Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Parndana
Established	21 January 1971
Area	24.67 km2 (9.5 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

The Western River Wilderness Protection Area is a special place in South Australia. It is located on the north coast of Kangaroo Island. This protected area is about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) west of the town of Parndana. It is part of the area known as Western River.

This area helps protect nature and wildlife. It used to be called the Western River Conservation Park. Before that, it was known as the Western River National Park.

About the Western River Wilderness Area

This wilderness protection area covers about 24.67 square kilometers (9.5 square miles). It has a very rugged landscape. You will find many steep slopes and deep valleys here.

Plants and Trees

The plants in this area are mostly open forests and woodlands. There are also areas of scrub. Some common trees include the Sugar gum, E. baxteri, E. diversifolia, and Cup gum.

You can also find open heath areas with Allocasuarina muelleriana. There are also low open forests of Drooping she-oak.

Animals and Wildlife

This area is very important for the Glossy Black Cockatoo. It provides places for these birds to build their nests and find food. These cockatoos are an endangered species.

Natural Beauty

The Western River Wilderness Protection Area has beautiful coastal cliffs. There is also a lovely waterfall on Waterfall Creek. These features make the area very scenic.

The area is classified as an IUCN Category Ib protected area. This means it is a "Wilderness Area." These areas are kept as natural as possible.

History of Protection

The land in this area has been protected for a long time. It first became a protected area on January 21, 1971.

From National Park to Wilderness Area

It was first called the Western River National Park. This happened under a law called the National Parks Act 1966.

On April 27, 1972, the national park changed. It became the Western River Conservation Park. This was under a new law, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

Later, on October 15, 1993, most of the park became a wilderness protection area. This was under the Wilderness Protection Act 1992. The rest of the area was added on October 5, 2006.

In 1980, the area was listed on the Register of the National Estate. This list no longer exists today.

Why This Area is Special

The government agency that manages this area has noted its special qualities.

Wilderness Qualities

Even with some small modern impacts, the area feels wild. It has unique wilderness features. It is important to protect and restore it.

The area has rugged terrain and high coastal cliffs. These are typical of Kangaroo Island's northern coast. It is also highly valued because it is home to the endangered Glossy Black-cockatoo.

The variety of plant species is high here. The plants show a wide range of types found on Kangaroo Island.