Investigator Group Wilderness Protection Area is a
protected area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...
in
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
, located in the
Investigator Group of islands off the west coast of
Eyre Peninsula
The Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded by the Spencer Gulf on the east, the Great Australian Bight on the west, and the Gawler Ranges to the north.
Originally called Eyre’s Peninsula, it was named af ...
, between and south-west of
Elliston.
It was proclaimed in August 2011 under the ''Wilderness Protection Act 1992'' to protect "important haul-out areas for the
Australian sea lion
The Australian sea lion (''Neophoca cinerea''), also known as the Australian sea-lion or Australian sealion, is a species of sea lion that is the only endemic pinniped in Australia. It is currently monotypic in the genus '' Neophoca'', with the ...
and
New Zealand fur seal
''Arctocephalus forsteri'' (common names include the Australasian fur seal, South Australian fur seal, New Zealand fur seal, Antipodean fur seal, or long-nosed fur seal) is a species of fur seal found mainly around southern Australia and New ...
" and habitat for species such as
white-faced storm petrel
The white-faced storm petrel (''Pelagodroma marina''), also known as white-faced petrel is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus ''Pelagodroma''.
Description
The white-face ...
s,
Cape Barren geese
The Cape Barren goose (''Cereopsis novaehollandiae'') is a large goose resident in southern Australia.
Etymology
The species' common name is derived from Cape Barren Island, where specimens were first sighted by European explorers. It is known ...
,
mutton birds and the
Pearson Island black-footed rock-wallaby. The wilderness protection area was created from land excised from the
Investigator Group Conservation Park. It consists of the
Ward Islands, the
Top Gallant Isles, and the
Pearson Isles
Pearson Isles (also called the Pearson Islands, Pearson Group and Pearson Archipelago) is an island group located in the Australian state of South Australia about to west south-west of Cape Finniss on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula wit ...
, which consist of
Dorothee Island,
Pearson Island
Pearson Island is an island located in the Australian state of South Australia within the Pearson Isles an island group located in the larger group known as the Investigator Group about southwest by west of Cape Finniss on the west coast ...
and
Veteran Isles
Veteran Isles (french: Ile du Veteran; also known as the Veteran Islands) is a pair of islands in the Australian state of South Australia which is part of the Pearson Isles which itself is part of the larger island group known as the Investig ...
with the exception of a portion of land on Pearson Island held by the
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is an Australian statutory authority responsible for the regulation and safety oversight of Australia's shipping fleet and management of Australia's international maritime obligations. The authority ...
for "lighthouse purposes".
[
Since 2012, the waters adjoining the islands located in the wilderness protected area have been part of the ]Investigator Marine Park __NOTOC__
Investigator Marine Park is a marine protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the state's coastal waters in its west adjoining the west coast of Eyre Peninsula and islands in the Investigator Group respectiv ...
.[
]
References
External links
Investigator Group Wilderness Protection Area webpage on protected planet
{{Protected areas of South Australia, state=collapsed
Wilderness areas of South Australia
Protected areas established in 2011
2011 establishments in Australia
Great Australian Bight