Kakadu National Park By: Pranjal Pasarnikar

1. Kakadu National Park By: Pranjal Pasarnikar

2. Where is it located? Kakadu National Park is located within the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory in Australia. It is really huge as it is about one third size of Tasmania and half of Switzerland.

3. Interesting things – Kakadu National Park. • The Ranger Uranium Mine one of the most productive mines in the world, is surrounded by but it is separate by the Park. • Name of this national park is of Gaagudju which comes from an Aboriginal language which is formerly spoken in the Northern part of the park. • Kakadu is ecologically and biologically Diverse.

4. Little Information – KAKADU – what is in it? • The World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park is the largest park in Australia covering more than 110 000 square kilometres in the north-east corner of the Top End. The spectacular escarpments and wetlands abundant with wildlife make Kakadu an exhilarating outback holiday. • Kakadu’s rivers, plains and wetlands are home to more than one third of Australia’s bird species plus other wildlife like crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies, reptiles and fish. Scenic 4WD tracks lead you to some of the best spots in Kakadu including some amazing waterfalls like Jim and Gunlom Falls. • The proud history of Aboriginal people in Kakadu is represented in rock art dating back around 20 000 years. Kakadu has the highest concentration of Aboriginal rock art in Australia. Walk around Ubirr or Nourlangie Rock and see this amazing history for your self. From the top of Ubirr you’ll find stunning views of the surrounding wetlands and escarpment country that make Kakadu so unique.

5. FLORA • Kakadu's flora is among the richest in northern Australia with more than 1700 plant species recorded which is a result of the park's geological, landform and habitat diversity. Kakadu is also considered to be one of the most weed free national parks in the world. • The distinctly different geographical areas of Kakadu have their own specialised flora. The environment referred to as ‘the stone country’ features ‘resurrection grasses’ that are able to cope with extreme heat and long dry spells followed by periods of torrential rain.

6. FAUNA • The diverse environments of Kakadu National Park support an astonishing array of animals, a number of which have adapted to particular habitats. • Some animals in the Park are rare, endangered, vulnerable or endemic. Responding to the extreme weather conditions experienced in the Park, many animals are active only at particular times of the day or night or at particular times of the year.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND THREATS! • Kakadu has seen several invasive species threaten the native habitat, particularly in recent decades. Introduced fauna including the water buffalo, wild pig and more recently, the cane toad have had major effects on habitat. Invasive weeds include Mimosa Pigra, which covers 800 km² of the Top End, including vast areas of Kakadu, invasive para grass displaces the native food of much of Kakadu's birdlife. Salvinia molesta has infested the Magela floodplain. Brumbies also inhabit areas of the National Park, including Yellow Water.

8. HUMAN IMPACTS • Human impacts during the 19th and 20th century have been significant. Introduction of Domestic Asian Water Buffalo from Southeast Asia has resulted in damage to the fragile floodplains and wetlands. Since then, buffalo have largely been eradicated from the area so the land is now rehabilitating itself. Crocodile hunting which has been banned since 1972 made a huge impact on crocodile populations. In the 30 or so years that they have been protected, however the crocodile population has recovered so successfully that some consider there to be an over population.

9. INTRODUCED SPECIES • Buffalo: Asian water buffalo were introduced into northern Australian settlements between the 1820s and the 1840s, as work animals and for meat and hides. • Horses: Horses are particularly common in the southern woodlands of the park. They spread weeds and damage waterholes by eroding soil and fouling the water. • Cane Toads: Cane toads are poisonous throughout most of their life cycle and current information suggests that they will have an initial impact on animals such as snakes, goannas and quolls, who will try to eat them.

10. What I Think… • Well, I have introduced you to Kakadu National Park very well, by listing their species and what impacts they have by humans. The locals out there near the Park would have been really excited when they got to know about the Park but they should have also concerned the different species with them as well. They are living things which are also sensitive. We should take care of them just as we take care of ourselves and more than that our Family. I don’t think you would like your family to be fed up by people doing wrong things to them; that is probably how the animals feel, they need their space so even if they are in a cage doesn’t mean they have a cage for their Hearts. They have hearts just like we do. My bibliography is in the notes section for this Slide.