Caloola
- Acquired:
- 2017
- Area:
- 18,100 ha
- Bioregion:
- Cape York
- Habitat:
- Lowland tropical rainforest, gallery rainforest, semi-deciduous vine thicket, tropical savanna
- Threatened Ecological Communities:
- 10
- Threatened and Near-Threatened Species:
- 14
Reserve overview
Caloola Station is an 18,100 ha property located 10 km southwest of Cooktown on Cape York Peninsula, 5 km from the coast at its closest point and with a 20 km frontage to the Annan River. Ninety eight percent of this property is undisturbed savanna and rainforest. According to our surveys, it supports the largest remaining population of the endangered Northern Quoll on Cape York.
Caloola plays a significant role in the Annan River catchment, which includes two inshore reefs and numerous near-inshore reefs within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Protecting Caloola is benefitting these reefs, which are threatened by poor water quality, although broader efforts are needed in the whole Annan catchment to prevent further decline.
protecting wildlife, sustaining life
Species and Habitats
Strategically positioned at the junction of the Wet Tropics, Cape York, and Einasleigh Uplands bioregions, Caloola boasts exceptionally diverse flora, with 28 regional ecosystems, 20 of which have little or no representation in the state and/or national reserve system. Two wildlife corridors of state significance converge on Caloola, serving as a crucial link between the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and the proposed Cape York World Heritage Area. The property features a unique mix of Wet Tropics rainforests and Cape York savannas, with an estimated 2,000 ha of rainforest.
Conservation Highlights
Caloola supports at least 11 threatened or near-threatened plant species and 10 threatened or near-threatened fauna species. Notable wildlife on Caloola includes the endangered Northern Quoll, Semon’s Leaf-nosed Bat, Ghost Bat, and Red Goshawk, as well as the near-threatened Bennett’s Tree Kangaroo.
The endangered Southern Cassowary, also endangered, and the vulnerable Victoria’s Riflebird (recorded at its northernmost range on Caloola), are also present.
Additionally, the lowland tropical rainforest on Caloola is a nationally endangered ecological community.
