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[[File:KangarooIslandMap.png|thumb|right|250px|Kangaroo Island]]
'''Kangaroo Island''' is [[Australia]]'s third-largest [[island]] after [[Tasmania]] and [[Melville Island, Northern Territory|Melville Island]].
It is {{convert|112|km}} southwest of [[Adelaide]] in the state of [[South Australia]].
At its closest point to the mainland, it is {{convert|13|km|mi|abbr=off|0}} offshore from [[Cape Jervis, South Australia|Cape Jervis]].
The island is {{convert|150|km|mi|abbr=on|0}} long and between {{convert|900|m|yd|abbr=on|-1}} and {{convert|57|km|mi|abbr=on|0}} wide, its area covering {{convert|4405|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|0}}. Its coastline is {{convert|540|km}} long and highest altitude is {{convert|307|m|ft|abbr=on|-1}}.
==Wildlife and its protection==
[[Image:Sea lion and pup in Seal Bay - Kangaroo Island.jpg|thumb|right|Seal Bay's [[Australian Sea Lion]]s]]
More than half of the island has never been cleared of vegetation, and a quarter of it is conserved in [[National Park]]s, Conservation Parks, and five Wilderness Protection Areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/visitor/kisland.html|publisher=South Australian Government Department for Environment and Heritage|title=South Australian National Parks & Reserves - Kangaroo Island Region|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> The main protected areas are:
* Flinders Chase National Park
* Seal Bay Conservation Park
* Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park
* Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area
* Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area
Because of its isolation from mainland Australia, [[fox]]es and [[rabbit]]s are absent from and prohibited from entering the island. Registration and microchipping of cats is mandatory.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Kangaroo Island Council|url=http://www.kangarooisland.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Dog_and_Cat_Management_Plan_2005_MD_App.pdf|title=Dog and Cat Management Plan|year=2005|accessdate=2008-07-03|format=PDF}}</ref>
The [[Western Grey Kangaroo|Kangaroo Island Kangaroo]], Rosenberg's Sand Goanna, [[Southern Brown Bandicoot]], [[Tammar Wallaby]], [[Common Brushtail Possum]], [[Short-beaked Echidna]] and [[New Zealand Fur Seal]] are native to the island, as well as six [[bat]] and [[frog]] species. The sole [[endemism|endemic]] (found nowhere else) vertebrate species is a small marsupial carnivore called the [[Kangaroo Island Dunnart]]. The [[Koala]], [[Common Ringtail Possum]] and [[Platypus]] have been introduced and still survive there. Kangaroo Island had a native species of [[Emu]], the [[Kangaroo Island Emu]]; however, it became extinct between 1802 and official European settlement in 1836, perhaps owing to [[bushfires]] or from hunting by sealers or whalers.
The introduced Koalas have flourished so well on the island that their preferred food source, the [[Manna Gum]], is at risk of local extinction. Koalas have recently been forced to turn to other, less palatable, species. Park Management has been searching for a solution.
== Tourism ==
The island is a major tourist attraction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tomm.info/reports_factsheets/visitor_exit_surveys/index.aspx|title=Visitor Exit Surveys|date=2005-2006|accessdate=2007-06-22|author=Kangaroo Island Tourism Optimisation Model}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Islands of Australia]]
[[Category:Geography of South Australia]]
{{Link GA|zh}}
'''Kangaroo Island''' is [[Australia]]'s third-largest [[island]] after [[Tasmania]] and [[Melville Island, Northern Territory|Melville Island]].
It is {{convert|112|km}} southwest of [[Adelaide]] in the state of [[South Australia]].
At its closest point to the mainland, it is {{convert|13|km|mi|abbr=off|0}} offshore from [[Cape Jervis, South Australia|Cape Jervis]].
The island is {{convert|150|km|mi|abbr=on|0}} long and between {{convert|900|m|yd|abbr=on|-1}} and {{convert|57|km|mi|abbr=on|0}} wide, its area covering {{convert|4405|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|0}}. Its coastline is {{convert|540|km}} long and highest altitude is {{convert|307|m|ft|abbr=on|-1}}.
==Wildlife and its protection==
[[Image:Sea lion and pup in Seal Bay - Kangaroo Island.jpg|thumb|right|Seal Bay's [[Australian Sea Lion]]s]]
More than half of the island has never been cleared of vegetation, and a quarter of it is conserved in [[National Park]]s, Conservation Parks, and five Wilderness Protection Areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/visitor/kisland.html|publisher=South Australian Government Department for Environment and Heritage|title=South Australian National Parks & Reserves - Kangaroo Island Region|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> The main protected areas are:
* Flinders Chase National Park
* Seal Bay Conservation Park
* Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park
* Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area
* Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area
Because of its isolation from mainland Australia, [[fox]]es and [[rabbit]]s are absent from and prohibited from entering the island. Registration and microchipping of cats is mandatory.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Kangaroo Island Council|url=http://www.kangarooisland.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Dog_and_Cat_Management_Plan_2005_MD_App.pdf|title=Dog and Cat Management Plan|year=2005|accessdate=2008-07-03|format=PDF}}</ref>
The [[Western Grey Kangaroo|Kangaroo Island Kangaroo]], Rosenberg's Sand Goanna, [[Southern Brown Bandicoot]], [[Tammar Wallaby]], [[Common Brushtail Possum]], [[Short-beaked Echidna]] and [[New Zealand Fur Seal]] are native to the island, as well as six [[bat]] and [[frog]] species. The sole [[endemism|endemic]] (found nowhere else) vertebrate species is a small marsupial carnivore called the [[Kangaroo Island Dunnart]]. The [[Koala]], [[Common Ringtail Possum]] and [[Platypus]] have been introduced and still survive there. Kangaroo Island had a native species of [[Emu]], the [[Kangaroo Island Emu]]; however, it became extinct between 1802 and official European settlement in 1836, perhaps owing to [[bushfires]] or from hunting by sealers or whalers.
The introduced Koalas have flourished so well on the island that their preferred food source, the [[Manna Gum]], is at risk of local extinction. Koalas have recently been forced to turn to other, less palatable, species. Park Management has been searching for a solution.
== Tourism ==
The island is a major tourist attraction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tomm.info/reports_factsheets/visitor_exit_surveys/index.aspx|title=Visitor Exit Surveys|date=2005-2006|accessdate=2007-06-22|author=Kangaroo Island Tourism Optimisation Model}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Islands of Australia]]
[[Category:Geography of South Australia]]
{{Link GA|zh}}