Changes

[[Image:Sea lion and pup in Seal Bay - Kangaroo Island.jpg|thumb|right|Seal Bay's [[Australian]] [[sea lion]]s]]

[[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|archive-date=2008-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728053133/http://environment.sa.gov.au/parks/visitor/kisland.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The main protected areas are:

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|archive-date=2008-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728053133/http://environment.sa.gov.au/parks/visitor/kisland.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The main protected areas are:

* Flinders Chase National Park

* [[Flinders Chase National Park]]

* Seal Bay Conservation Park

* Seal Bay Conservation Park

* Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park

* Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park

* Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area

* Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area

Because of its isolation from mainland Australia, [[fox]]es and [[rabbit]]s are not there. People are [[forbidden]] to bring them into the island. Registration and microchipping of cats is complulsory.<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|archive-date=2009-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518205825/http://www.kangarooisland.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Dog_and_Cat_Management_Plan_2005_MD_App.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>  

Because of its isolation from mainland Australia, [[fox]]es and [[rabbit]]s are not there. People are [[forbidden]] to bring them into the island. Registration and microchipping of cats is compulsory.<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|archive-date=2009-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518205825/http://www.kangarooisland.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Dog_and_Cat_Management_Plan_2005_MD_App.pdf|url-status=dead}}</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]] which became extinct between 1802 and official European settlement in 1836. Perhaps this was caused by [[bushfire]]s or [[hunting]] by sealers or whalers.

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]] which became extinct between 1802 and official European settlement in 1836. Perhaps this was caused by [[bushfire]]s or [[hunting]] by sealers or [[Whaler|whalers]].

The introduced [[koalas]] have flourished so well on the island that their preferred food source, the [[manna gum]] tree, is at risk of local extinction. Koalas have recently been forced to turn to other, less tasty, plants. Park Management has been searching for a solution.

The introduced [[koalas]] have flourished so well on the island that their preferred food source, the [[manna gum]] tree, is at risk of local extinction. Koalas have recently been forced to turn to other, less tasty, plants. Park Management has been searching for a solution.