De Witt Island lies some south of Louisa Bay, on Tasmania's south coast.
Abel Tasman discovered it in 1642 and named it
Witsen or
Wits Eijlanden. The island is broadly triangular in shape, some across, with cliffs ranging from high to the south on all sides except a part of the central north coast. The highest parts of the island are located very close to the south coast, and enclose a north-facing basin. The island's summit is located very close to its southernmost point. Although currently uninhabited, it has a long history of human usage, including logging and occasional habitation. The island is part of the Maatsuyker Island Group
Important Bird Area, identified as such by
BirdLife International because of its importance as a breeding site for seabirds. The island is extensively
forested with the principal species being
Eucalyptus nitida,
swamp gum and
messmate. Sheltered areas also have
leatherwood and
myrtle beech. Recorded breeding
seabird and
wader species are the
little penguin (500 pairs),
short-tailed shearwater (11,000 pairs),
fairy prion (50 pairs),
silver gull and
sooty oystercatcher.
Swift parrots have been recorded.
Mammals present include the
Tasmanian pademelon,
long-nosed potoroo and
swamp rat.
Reptiles recorded are the
metallic skink and
Tasmanian tree skink. ==See also==