Mitchell River National Park (Western Australia)

Mitchell River National Park is a national park in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, 2,140 kilometres (1,330 mi) northeast of Perth. The park adjoins the northern boundary of the Prince Regent National Park. The nearest towns are Derby which is 350 kilometres (217 mi) to the southwest and Wyndham which is 270 km (168 mi) to the southeast. Access to the park is achieved by 4WD only along the Mitchell Plateau Track from the Kalumburu Road.

For the national park in Victoria, see Mitchell River National Park (Victoria).

Mitchell River National Park
Western Australia
IUCN category II (national park)
Mitchell River National Park
Nearest town or cityWyndham
Coordinates14°48′24″S 125°42′29″E
Established2000
Area1,153.25 km2 (445.3 sq mi)[1]
Managing authoritiesDepartment of Parks and Wildlife
WebsiteMitchell River National Park
See alsoList of protected areas of
Western Australia

The two main features of the park are Mitchell Falls and Surveyors Pool.

Environment

The park is biologically significant and contains over 50 species of mammal, 220 birds and 86 amphibians and reptiles, including the Saltwater Crocodile, King Brown snake and Taipan. The park is part of the Prince Regent and Mitchell River Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for a range of bird species, especially those restricted to tropical savanna habitats.[2]

History and management

The park is located within the Ngauwudu Management Area. The park was formed in 2000 without the consent of the traditional owners or following proper procedure under the Native Title Act.[3] It seems that Native Title has not been determined yet over this area, which falls into the Wanjina Wunggurr Uungguu but on adjacent country.[4] The Department of Parks and Wildlife is in a cooperative management arrangement with the Kandijwal Community. Three groups of Aboriginal people have traditional lands within the park: Worrora, Wunambal-Gaambera and Ngarinyin.[5]

See also
  • Protected areas of Western Australia

References
  1. "Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report". Department of Environment and Conservation. 2010. p. 48. ISSN 1835-114X. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011.
  2. "IBA: Prince Regent and Mitchell River". birdata.com.au. Birds Australia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  3. Horstman, M.; Wightman, G. (2001). "Karparti ecology: Recognition of Aboriginal ecological knowledge and its application to management in north-western Australia". Ecological Management & Restoration. 2 (2): 99–109. doi:10.1046/j.1442-8903.2001.00073.x.
  4. "Native title-Wanjina Wunggurr Uungguu". klc.org.au. Kimberley Land Council. Archived from the original on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  5. "Ngauwudu Management Area (Mitchell Plateau)". dec.wa.gov.au. Department of Environment and Conservation. 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
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