Cape Arid National Park

Cape Arid National Park is located on the south coast of Western Australia, around 731 kilometers southeast of Perth.

It sits on the shore of the south coast, east of the Recherche Archipelago, and is defined by Cape Arid, Sandy Bight, and Cape Pasley.

The park was named after French Admiral Bruni D'Entrecasteaux, who discovered the area in 1792 and called it "Cap Aride." Matthew Flinders anglicized the name to Cape Arid in 1802.

The park has a rich history, with pioneer graziers settling in the area in the 1870s. Ruins of homesteads, dams, buildings, and gravesites can still be found near Pine Hill and Thomas Fishery. Bay whaling was also conducted in the area during the 1860s and 1870s.

Cape Arid National Park is renowned for its stunning environment and diverse flora and fauna. It is home to various endangered species, including the Western Ground Parrot.

In 2015, bushfires in Esperance destroyed up to 90% of the park's remaining Western Ground Parrot habitat, causing significant damage to their nesting grounds. The fires reduced the population of these parrots from around 140 to an estimated 30-40 individuals newline.