Escape Island

Escape Island
Escape Island and lighthouse seen from Jurien Bay
Map
Geography
LocationIndian Ocean
Coordinates30°20′03″S 114°59′05″E / 30.33417°S 114.98472°E / -30.33417; 114.98472
Administration
StateWestern Australia
LGAShire of Dandaragan

Escape Island is an island near Jurien Bay in Western Australia. It is located within the Jurien Bay Marine Park and part of the Escape Island Nature Reserve.[1][2]

Description

The island has an area of 27.33 hectares (68 acres), is located 5.0 kilometres (3 mi) from the mainland, at the southern end of Jurien Bay, and has a maximum elevation of 12 metres (39 ft).[3]

The island is part of the Turquoise Coast islands nature reserve group, a chain of 40 islands spread over a distance of 150 kilometres (93 mi).[3]

Lighthouse

Main article: Escape Island Lighthouse

Geology

The islands were formed approximately 10,000 years ago after large fluctuations in sea levels caused erosion on large areas of the continental shelf during periods of glaciation. Large parallel sand dunes then formed and hardened into limestone, forming islands, most of which have been separated from the mainland for 6,500 years.[3]

Well preserved Tamala limestone geological features can be found on the islands, including the fragile fossil root networks known as rhizoliths that are found on Escape Island.[3]

Fauna

The Jurien Bay skink is found on the island, inhabiting the crevices in the limestone rocks. The bull skink is also found but lives in shallow burrows in the sandy soil. King's skinks are also found on the island but tend to inhabit the petrel burrows that are also found on the island.[4]

In 1999, 40 dibblers that were bred at Perth Zoo were released on the island under the wildlife recovery program Western Shield.[5][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Marine CAPAD 2022 WA summary". www.dcceew.gov.au/. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Terrestrial CAPAD 2022 WA summary". www.dcceew.gov.au/. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Turquoise Coast islands nature reserves management plan" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2004. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Survey guidelines for Australia's threatened reptiles". Department of EnVironment. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  5. ^ "40 Dibblers to be released on to Escape Island in Jurien Bay". Media Statement. Government of Western Australia. 7 October 1999. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  6. ^ Moro, Dorian (1 January 2003), "Translocation of captive-bred dibblers Parantechinus apicalis (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) to Escape Island, Western Australia", Biological Conservation, 111 (3), Research Online: 305, Bibcode:2003BCons.111..305M, doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00296-3, retrieved 8 December 2015