| Iucn category | II |
|---|---|
| Label | Elsey National Park |
| Location | Northern Territory |
| Established | 1991 |
| Area | 138.96 km² |
| Visitation num | 207,700[1] |
| Visitation year | 2022 |
| Nearest city | Mataranka |
| Governing body | |
| Website | Official website |
Elsey National Park is 378 km southeast of Darwin in the Katherine Region in the Northern Territory of Australia,[2] extending from 2 km to 19 km east of Mataranka.[3] Features of the park include Mataranka Falls,[4] and the Mataranka Thermal Pools.[5][6]
The thermal springs are home to a well known colony of the little red fruit-bat, species Pteropus scapulatus, an attraction that has also been discouraged from inhabiting the site for the strong odour of their camps. These fruit eating bats roost during the day at the stands of bamboo, often in large numbers, and leave at night to feed on nectar from trees.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Government, Northern Territory (2023-08-21). "Park visitor data". depws.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
- ^ Elsey National Park, nt.gov.au.
- ^ "Parks and Wildlife Commission NT". Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ “Mataranka Falls”.
- ^ “Mataranka Thermal Pools”.
- ^ Roper region, Northern Territory.
- ^ Richards, G.C.; Hall, L.S.; Parish, S. (photography) (2012). A natural history of Australian bats : working the night shift. CSIRO Pub. p. 13. ISBN 9780643103740.