Tenth Island
Encyclopedia
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
, sometimes called "Barrenjoey", with an area of 900 m2, in south-eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. It has no vegetation and much of it is wave-washed in winter storms.
Fauna
The island is home to a significant breeding colony of Australian Fur Seals, with up to 400 pups born each year, though many drown in storms. Black-faced CormorantBlack-faced Cormorant
The Black-faced Cormorant , also known as the Black-faced Shag, is a medium-sized member of the cormorant family. Upperparts, including facial skin and bill, are black, with white underparts. It is endemic to coastal regions of southern Australia.-Ecology:The Black-faced-Cormorant feeds largely on...
s also breed on the island and Little Penguin
Little Penguin
The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of in height and in length , is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names...
s roost there.
Shark attack
The island was the location of the last human shark attackShark attack
A shark attack is an attack on a human by a shark. Every year around 60 shark attacks are reported worldwide, although death is quite unusual. Despite the relative rarity of shark attacks, the fear of sharks is a common phenomenon, having been fueled by the occasional instances of serial attacks,...
fatality in Tasmania, on 5 June 1993, when Therese Cartwright ("age 35 and mother of five") was killed by a reportedly 5-metre long Great White Shark
Great white shark
The great white shark, scientific name Carcharodon carcharias, also known as the great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. It is known for its size, with the largest individuals known to have approached...
(Carcharodon carcharias) while scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
at the seal colony.
Other islands in the Waterhouse Group with breeding seabirds include:
- Ninth IslandNinth IslandNinth Island is an island, with an area of 32 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania. It is partly privately owned and has been badly affected in the past by grazing, frequent fires and, in July 1995, by the...
- Waterhouse Island
- Little Waterhouse IslandLittle Waterhouse IslandLittle Waterhouse Island is a small island, with an area of 2.5 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania. Most of the island is bare rock...
- Maclean IslandMaclean IslandMaclean Island is a small island, with an area of 1.11 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania.-Fauna:...
- Baynes IslandBaynes IslandBaynes Island is a group of three islets, connected at low tide, with a combined area of 1.62 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania.-Fauna:...
- Cygnet Island
- Foster IslandsFoster Islands (Tasmania)The Foster Islands are two small islands, connected at low tide, with a combined area of 48 ha, in south-eastern Australia. They are part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania...
- Swan IslandSwan Island (Tasmania)Swan Island is a granite island, with an area of 239 ha , in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania. Part of the island is privately owned and it contains an automated lighthouse, several houses and an airstrip. It...
- Little Swan IslandLittle Swan IslandLittle Swan Island is an island, with an area of 12.64 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania.-Fauna:...
- Bird RockBird RockBird Rock is a small granite island, with an area of about 1 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania.-Fauna:...
- George RocksGeorge RocksGeorge Rocks comprises three adjacent granite islets with their associated reefs, with a combined area of about 7 ha, in south-eastern Australia...
- St Helens IslandSt Helens IslandSt Helens Island is a granite island, with an area of 51 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania. The island is a conservation area, though it has been burnt in the past and is still subject to severe rabbit...
- Paddys IslandPaddys IslandPaddys Island is a flat granite island, with an area of 4.6 ha, in south-eastern Australia. It is part of the Waterhouse Island Group, lying close to the north-eastern coast of Tasmania...