Deliverance Island (Queensland)

Deliverance Island (Warul Kawa) is a small island about 80 km South of Papua New Guinea and 200 km North of Thursday Island, Torres Strait, in the Torres Strait Queensland, Australia.

Surrounded by a shallow reef platform interspersed with sandy patches with little live coral present.

Brown and green algae are predominating on the rocky substrate with some seagrass present. The island and surrounding reef support two internationally significant populations of sea turtles. It contains one of the largest rookeries for the flatback turtle, which is only found in Australian waters. The extensive shallow water habitats in the area support large numbers of migrating green turtles. The breeding assemblages in north and eastern Australia are the largest remaining rookeries for green turtles. The island and surrounding reef system have retained their high natural value due largely to their remoteness. Although Warul Kawa has been inhabited periodically by Europeans in the past, there has been little impact on the natural environment as evident by the presence of only two-recorded exotic plant species. The area has maintained high vegetation integrity of considerable diversity and complexity. These habitats support a variety of birds, including the yellow-footed scrubfowl, not reported on many other islands in Torres Strait.

Due to the spiritual and cultural significance that the island has for local Indigenous people, Deliverance Island was declared an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in February 2001. The local Indigenous name for the island, Warul Kawa, means "Island of turtles" in the Torres Strait Island language.

External links

ignificant agreement/treaty

* [http://www.atns.net.au/biogs/A000500b.htm Warul Kawa (Deliverance Island) Financial Assistance Agreement]
* [http://www.atns.net.au/biogs/A000463b.htm Warul Kawa Indigenous Protected Area (2001 - )]

Media issues

* [http://www.safecom.org.au/news-0504-2006.htm Howard should bring true "Deliverance" to Papuans on the mainland]
* [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,18726021-2702,00.html Papuan union leader misses the mark in bid for asylum]
* [http://www.torresnews.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=55&Itemid=1 International focus on new West Papua refugee bid.]