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 Buffeted
by the waves of the Southern Ocean, Kangaroo Island
boasts some of Australia’s most spectacular coastline
and a wildlife population protected from the predations
of introduced species. A mix of small townships, rural
land and wilderness, Australia's third largest island
offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the country.
Kangaroo Island is the third largest island off the
coast of Australia. 155 km long, up to 55 km wide,
and covering an area of 4,500 square kilometers.
Since Aboriginal occupation 10,000 years ago, and
a French claim to it in 1804, the island has developed
a variety of ‘boutique’ agricultural industries,
including eucalyptus oil production, dairy products,
bee keeping, marron farming and viticulture.
Kangaroo Island’s diverse environment provides
habitat for a multitude of wildlife - koalas, platypus,
bandicoots, goannas, possums, Echidnas and Tammar
wallabies, now almost extinct on the mainland. The
shy Sooty Dunnart represents the only endemic species
to Kangaroo Island.
Larger mammals include Western Grey kangaroos, seals,
sea lions, dolphins and at times Southern Right whales
that calve in t he sheltered bays. Birdlife is plentiful
with 250 species recorded, from Cape Barren Geese,
to Lorikeets, Honeyeaters, Superb Fairy Wrens, Fairy
penguins, pelicans, Sea Eagles and a rare colony of
Glossy Black Cockatoos, each occupying a niche in
the variety of island habitats.
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