35-621: Porongurup National Park is a national park in the Great Southern region of Western Australia . It covers 26.21 square kilometres (10.12 sq mi), and is 360 kilometres (220 mi) southeast of Perth and 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Albany . The park contains the Porongurup Range , which is the relic core of an ancient mountain range formed in the Precambrian over 1200 million years ago. The Porongurup Range forms part of
70-499: A joey ) attaches to the teat in the pouch for 130–150 days. Females reach sexual maturity at 17 months while males mature at around 20 months. The western grey kangaroo is closely related to the eastern grey kangaroo ( M. giganteus ), and their distribution overlaps extensively, especially in the Murray–Darling basin. However, the two species interbreed only rarely in the wild. Although hybridisation occurs in both directions in
105-461: A western grey giant kangaroo , black-faced kangaroo , mallee kangaroo , sooty kangaroo and (when referring to the Kangaroo Island subspecies) Kangaroo Island grey kangaroo , is a large and very common kangaroo found across almost the entire southern part of Australia , from just south of Shark Bay through coastal Western Australia and South Australia , into western Victoria , and in
140-402: A 0.80–1.0 m (2 ft 7 in – 3 ft 3 in) tail, standing approximately 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) tall. It exhibits sexual dimorphism with the male up to twice the size of female. It has thick, coarse fur with colour ranging from pale grey to brown; its throat, chest and belly have a paler colour. This species is difficult to distinguish from its sibling species,
175-464: A competitor for water and pasture by ranchers, this species is considered a pest in some areas. To limit agricultural damage, kangaroo culling has been allowed under license every year. Commercial hunting for meat and skin also allowed under regulation, with skins providing a high-quality, long-lasting leather. About 40% of harvested meat is used for human consumption; leather is used as a material for handbags, briefcases, and belts. Commercial hunting
210-576: A devastating fire in the region since the 1960s. The park includes a number of significant tourist features and walk trails. Great Southern (Western Australia) The Great Southern region is one of the nine regions of Western Australia , as defined by the Regional Development Commissions Act 1993 , for the purposes of economic development. It is a section of the larger south coast of Western Australia and neighbouring agricultural regions. The region officially comprises
245-401: A nickname "stinker" because mature males have a distinctive curry -like odour. The western grey kangaroo is a nocturnal species that varies its core body temperature based on daily ambient temperatures. The kangaroo's lowest daily core body temperature occurs mid-morning. In the summer, this was 2.2 °C (4 °F) lower than during cooler spring days. This reduced summer body temperature
280-612: Is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from east to west and consists of porphyritic granite peaks levelled into domes. The range is the remnant of a sizeable reservoir of molten granite that bubbled up when the Antarctic continent struck Australia in the Stenian Period of the Mesoproterozoic Era , around 1200 million (1.2 billion) years ago. The sea levels of the late Cretaceous were around 100 metres higher than today and during this time
315-473: Is also important for richness in lilies, orchids and allies ( Liliales ), notably native lilies (Anthericaceae), irises and allies ( Iridaceae ), and orchids ( Orchidaceae ). High granite peaks create their own micro-climates due to their altitude and their capacity to attract topographic rainfall. This maintains cooler and moister climate conditions than the surrounding low-lying plains. A remnant island of karri forest prevails here, hundreds of kilometres east of
350-457: Is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List , with a population showing an increasing trend. Total population within the commercial harvest areas is estimated to be around 3,781,023 individuals in 2020. Though the feeding habits of M. fuliginosus can be problematic for agriculture, it is protected and controlled exclusively by the state faunal authorities. Because it is considered
385-562: Is the only place in Western Australia that regularly receives snowfalls , if only very light. The economy of the Great Southern is dominated by livestock farming, dairy farming and crop -growing. It has some of the most productive cereal grain and pastoral land in the state, and is a major producer of wool and lamb . Albany is a major fishing centre. The coast of the Great Southern has milder summer weather than areas on
SECTION 10
#1732876587491420-447: Is thought to allow the species to conserve energy during a time when food availability is low. The western grey kangaroo lives in groups of up to 15, and the males compete for females during the breeding season. During these "boxing" contests, they lock arms and try to push each other over. Usually, only the dominant male in the group mates. The gestation period is 30–31 days, after which the incompletely developed fetus (referred to as
455-542: The Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes for some years. Eventually, researchers at the Paris Museum of Natural History recognized that these animals were indeed distinct from the eastern grey kangaroo and formally described the species as Macropus fuliginosus in 1817. For reasons that remain unclear, the species was, later in 1888, incorrectly described as native to Tasmania . It was not until 1924 that researchers realized that
490-527: The Murray–Darling basin area. They never interbreed in the wild, although it has proved possible to produce hybrids between eastern grey females and western grey males in captivity . There are two subspecies: The western grey kangaroo is one of the largest macropods in Australia. It weighs 28–54 kg (62–120 lb) and its length is 0.84–1.1 m (2 ft 9 in – 3 ft 7 in) with
525-522: The eastern grey kangaroo ( Macropus giganteus ). However, the western grey kangaroo has darker grey-brown fur, darker colouration around the head, and sometimes has a blackish patch around the elbow. It feeds at night, mainly on grasses and forbs but also on leafy shrubs and low trees. During the Late Pleistocene , its diet was more varied and incorporated a greater proportion of C 4 plants relative to that of present western grey kangaroos. It has
560-467: The local government areas of Albany , Broomehill-Tambellup , Cranbrook , Denmark , Gnowangerup , Jerramungup , Katanning , Kent , Kojonup , Plantagenet and Woodanilling . The Great Southern has an area of 39,007 square kilometres (15,061 sq mi) and a population of about 54,000. Its administrative centre is the historic port of Albany . It has a Mediterranean climate , with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The Stirling Range
595-423: The red-eared firetail (Emblema oculata) and Baudin's black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus baudinii) are also found in the park. At least 17 reptile species are known to inhabit the park including King's skink (Egernia kingii), the southern heath monitor ( Varanus rosenbergi ) and the marbled gecko ( Phyllodactylus marmoratus ). Several tree frog and southern frog species are also evident. Invertebrates present in
630-407: The western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecular), pygmy possum (Cercartetus concinnus), mardo (or yellow-footed antechinus – Antechinus flavipes leucogaster), mooti (or bush rat – Rattus fuscipes fuscipes ), quenda (or southern brown bandicoot – Isoodon obesulus fusciventer) and honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus). Seventy-one bird species including
665-510: The "forester kangaroo" of Tasmania was in fact Macropus giganteus , the same eastern grey kangaroo that was, and still is, widespread in the southeastern part of the mainland, and reaffirmed Kangaroo Island as the source of the type specimens. By 1971, it was understood that the Kangaroo Island western grey kangaroo belonged to the same species as the kangaroos of southern and Western Australia, and that this population extended through much of
700-573: The National Park (it was an unusual depression that produced very little rainfall after moving south of the Tropic of Capricorn ). On 11 February 2007, a fire began on private property near the north-west corner of the park. It quickly spread into the native vegetation and raced up the steep slopes within hours. Volunteer fire crews and Department 's firefighters battled the fast-moving blaze and managed to contain it overnight after it had burnt around 50% of
735-554: The National Park include Gondwanan relictual species such as the Porongurup trapdoor spider (Neohomogona bolganupensis), land snails ( Bothriembryon spp.) and giant earthworms (Megacolex sp.). Other invertebrates include peacock spiders (Maratus sp), velvet worms ( Onychophora ) and the social crab spider (Diaea socialis). The plains surrounding the Porongurup Range have an annual rainfall of around 800 millimetres (31 in) to
SECTION 20
#1732876587491770-720: The Porongurup Range was an island surrounded by the sea. The Porongurup National Park contains over 700 native plant species and at least 300 macrofungi species. At least nine flora species are unique and found only in the park. Examples of plant groups present include: heaths ( Epacridaceae ), especially beard-heaths ( Leucopogon ); peas ( Fabaceae ), notably flame-peas ( Chorizema ), bitter-peas ( Daviesia and Bossiaea ) and poison-peas ( Gastrolobium ); native myrtles ( Myrtaceae ); pimeleas ( Thymelaeaceae ), notably rice flowers ( Pimelea ); sundews and pitcher plants ( Nepenthales ); bloodroots, conostyles, kangaroo paws and their allies (Haemodorales); and banksias and grevilleas ( Proteales ). It
805-486: The Southwest Biodiversity Hotspot, which is one of 34 regions in the world noted for a rich diversity of flora and fauna species. The range contains many peaks and hiking trails, with the highest point being Devils Slide at 670 metres (2,200 ft),followed by Nancy's Peak at 644 metres. Castle Rock (558 metres) is capped with The Granite Skywalk, a steel viewing platform which provides panoramic views of
840-400: The cool southwest cape where they are more commonly found. They thrive in the granitic soils (known as "karri loam") and cool, moist air. On lateritic soils downslope, the predominant type of vegetation is a mixed forest of jarrah and marri , whilst on the highly exposed and frequently waterlogged summits, an open mossy herbland prevails. The mammal species in the National Park include
875-510: The daytime and decline to around 18 °C (64 °F) at night. In winter, although it can be rainy, temperatures average a very pleasant 16 °C (61 °F) during the day and a cool 8 °C (46 °F) in the morning. Temperatures on the peaks are around 3 °C (5.4 °F) lower than on the plains, and snow has occasionally fallen on the ranges (heavily in October 1992 and June 1956). In 1978, Cyclone Alby felled many trees within
910-498: The eastern part of the continent as well (see range map). For a time, three subspecies were described, two on the mainland and one on Kangaroo Island. The current classification scheme emerged in the 1990s. The western grey kangaroo is not found in the north or the far southeast of Australia, and the eastern grey does not extend beyond the New South Wales–South Australia border, but the two species are both common in
945-697: The entire Murray–Darling basin in New South Wales and Queensland . Long known to the Aboriginal Australians , for Europeans, the western grey kangaroo was the centre of a great deal of sometimes comical taxonomic confusion for almost 200 years. It was first noted by European explorers when Matthew Flinders landed on Kangaroo Island in 1802. Flinders shot several for food, but assumed that they were eastern grey kangaroos . In 1803, French explorers captured several Kangaroo Island western grey kangaroos and shipped them to Paris , where they lived in
980-428: The establishment of a temporary British military base, commanded by Major Edmund Lockyer , at King George Sound (Albany) on Christmas Day, 1826. Albany is consequently regarded as the oldest European settlement in Western Australia. 35°S 117°E / 35°S 117°E / -35; 117 Western grey kangaroo The western grey kangaroo ( Macropus fuliginosus ), also referred to as
1015-542: The fire had burnt through around 95% of the national park. As many of the trees and vegetation are native to the region, it is expected that the park will, to a large extent, recover in the months after the fire. By early April, Kingia australis plants were re-shooting and flowering abundantly in heavily burnt areas but the legacy of the fire will be felt for some time to come. Local populations of kangaroos and other wildlife were injured and local residents assisted in their care and recovery where possible. There has not been such
1050-402: The overlap zone between the two species, this does not seem to be the case with captive animals. Although interbreeding between the two species does occasionally occur in captive animals, viable offspring are only produced when the mating pair consists of a female eastern grey kangaroo and a male western grey kangaroo. This is an example of unidirectional hybridisation. The western grey kangaroo
1085-565: The park. The fire broke containment lines on Monday afternoon (12 February) and spread further through the park and into private property to the north-east. Fire crews, including aerial support from six water bomber planes , continued the battle to contain the blaze and by Tuesday morning it was again under control though still burning freely within the containment zone. Water bombers paid special attention to tourist facilities and special habitats, including an area where endangered noisy scrub birds had been released. By Wednesday morning (14 February)
Porongurup National Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-436: The south and around 600 millimetres (24 in) on the northern side. Most of this rain falls between April and October: although light showers are common in the summer months, the average rainfall between November and March totals only around 110 millimetres (4.3 in) in the southern plains and less than 75 millimetres (3.0 in) to the north. Summer temperatures on the plains average a very warm 26 °C (79 °F) in
1155-472: The surrounding districts did not start until around 1859 when vegetables were first grown on the southern slopes of the range. The giant karri and jarrah trees of the range were first harvested for timber in the 1880s and timber leases did not begin to be withdrawn until 1925. The National Park was not gazetted officially until 1971, with an area of 1,157 hectares (2,860 acres). This has now been increased to 2,511 hectares (6,200 acres). The Porongurup Range
1190-621: The surrounding karri forest. The Porongurup Range is culturally significant to the Mineng and Koreng /Goreng sub-groups of the Noongar people. Minang man Larry Blight states: This is our most sacred site...Porongurup or "Borrongup" means totem in Noongar — a totem could be an animal or a plant that we inherit from our mother’s and father’s side when we are born. The Porongurup Range was first sighted by Europeans passing near Albany in 1802 but farming in
1225-521: The west coast proper and is also a popular destination for holidaymakers, tourists , anglers and surfers . Albany is home to the Kalgan River which is associated with riverboats , from 1918 to 1935 with Silver Star which lowered its funnel to get under a bridge, and today with Kalgan Queen which lowers its roof to pass beneath the same bridge. Noongar people have inhabited the region for tens of thousands of years. European settlement began with
#490509