| The Spectacled Hare Wallaby | | | | One of these was the spectacled Hare Wallaby. |
| When the British started colonising Australia in | | | | Some genetic changes in this species have taken |
| 1788 there were at least four species of Hare | | | | place in that time, and the ones left on the island |
| Wallaby; two of these are now extinct. | | | | are now classified as a separate subspecies; |
| The only one that is still surviving over a large | | | | Lagochetes conspicillatus conspicillatus. |
| range is the Spectacled Hare Wallaby, Lagochetes | | | | Protected |
| conspicillatus. This species still lives in much of | | | | Barrow Island did not have enough surface water |
| Northern Australia as well as parts of New Guinea | | | | to support pastoralism. It was used by fishermen |
| and some offshore islands. | | | | including pearl fishers as well as people catching |
| Size | | | | Turtles. |
| The Spectacled Hare Wallaby is the biggest of the | | | | In 1910, it was declared a class A nature reserve. |
| Hare Wallabies, growing to about four and a half | | | | This was the highest class of this type of |
| Kilograms (10 pounds). Its eyes have reddish fur | | | | protected area at the time. |
| round them, giving the animal the appearance of | | | | Oil |
| wearing spectacles. | | | | In the 1950's the area was recognised as being |
| Threats | | | | likely to contain oil. The nature reserve |
| All the Hare Wallabies have suffered enormously | | | | classification was not sufficient to protect the |
| from the changes in the Australia environment | | | | island, but exploitation was delayed by the use of |
| caused by humans and particularly their animals. | | | | atomic and thermonuclear weapons. |
| Even the spectacled species is greatly reduced in | | | | Nuclear Umbrella |
| numbers. The Central Hare Wallaby and the | | | | 16 Kilometres away from Barrow Island are the |
| Eastern Hare Wallaby are now extinct. The Rufus | | | | Montebello Islands. The British used these islands |
| Hare Wallaby only exists on offshore islands and | | | | for their nuclear tests. At least one of these was |
| small protected sanctuaries on the mainland. | | | | a Hydrogen Bomb so powerful that the British |
| Feral Cats are a major predator, but Foxes and | | | | government lied to the Australian government |
| Feral Dogs including Dingos also take their toll. | | | | because it exceeded the maximum power agreed |
| Barrow Island | | | | to. In fact it seems that the breach was |
| Barrow Island is the second biggest Island off the | | | | inadvertent and the British scientists had |
| coast of Western Australia. Its area is about 53 | | | | underestimated the power of the device. |
| square miles. This island used to be part of the | | | | The 76 kilometre exclusion zone delayed oil drilling. |
| mainland of Australia, and was used by the native | | | | Oil Drilling |
| Australia people. Around 8000 years ago it | | | | Oil drilling on Barrow Island started in 1963. It was |
| became separated from the Australian mainland | | | | done under strict environmental protection and |
| by rising sea levels. | | | | although some disruption was inevitable, the |
| Many types of animals were living on the island. | | | | animals seem to be surviving. |