Lord Howe Island

Lord Howe Island Latest News

A 16-year study from Lord Howe Island found record levels of plastic ingestion in fledgling sable shearwaters.

About Lord Howe Island

• It is a crescent-shaped, volcanic island.
• Location:  It is located about 650 kilometres off Australia’s east coast in the Tasman Sea.
• Discovered By: The Island was discovered in 1788 and named for Admiral Lord Howe by Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball of the British navy.
• Geographical Features
  • Peaks: The island has two peaks (Mounts Gower and Lidgbird), each rising above 2,500 feet (760 metres) at its southern end. 
  • It has the most southerly coral reef in the world.
• Flora and Fauna
  • About 47% of the island’s vascular plants are endemic, including the famous Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana).
  • It has endemic species like the Lord Howe Island Phasmid which is considered the world’s largest stick insect, and the flightless Lord Howe Woodhen (Gallirallis sylvestris).
  • It hosts the world’s largest known population of sable shearwaters, with an estimated 22,000 breeding pairs.
• The Lord Howe Island Group is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts countless unique plants and animals, many of which are endemic to the region. 

Source: DTE

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