Fitzroy Island is a nature lover’s paradise. Located just off the coast of Cairns in Far North Queensland, it is covered in lush tropical rainforest and is situated amongst the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef.
The pristine water surrounding Fitzroy Island is teeming with the most impressive, spine-tingling wildlife. Here we will introduce you to five of the many species of wildlife that you can find in Fitzroy Island water.
Sea Turtles
Getting to see a turtle on a trip to the Great Barrier Reef is usually high on every visitor’s wish list. The Great Barrier Reef is home to six out of seven of the world’s marine turtle species, with sightings of Green Turtles a regular occurrence. Therefore, there is a good chance of this wish being fulfilled while visiting Fitzroy Island.
Fitzroy Island is also home to the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre which is a volunteer operated, non-profit organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles. So, in addition to getting a glimpse of these majestic animals in their natural environment, you can visit the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre to really get up close to some marine turtles, and take a first-hand look at the journey to recovery the turtles undergo before being released back into the ocean.
Clown Fish
Just as popular with visitors to Fitzroy Island as sea turtles are the spectacular clown fish. Of course, the film ‘Finding Nemo’ catapulted these beautiful little fish into the spotlight with their identifiable orange colouring and three white bars narrowly edged in black across their bodies. Now everyone wants to find their own Nemo while exploring the Great Barrier Reef!
Clown fish live in a mutual relationship with sea anemones, which are stinging polyps that spend most of their time attached to rocks on the sea bottom or on coral reefs. The anemone protects the clown fish by killing off predators with their poisonous tentacles, to which the clown fish are immune.
In turn, clown fish help to protect the anemone by chasing away polyp-eating fish such as the butterfly fish. The clown fish also clean the anemone by eating algae and any leftover food. Getting the opportunity to see this symbiotic (living together) relationship off the waters of Fitzroy Island is a fascinating experience.
Image Credit: greatbarrierreefs.com.au/clownfish/
Manta Rays
Often described as the gentle giant of the sea, manta rays have been spotted on many occasions in the waters surrounding Fitzroy Island. These graceful, saucer-like creatures are extremely agile, being able to move at rapid speed while often breaching the water in spectacular fashion.
The standard diet of a manta ray consists of crustaceans, plankton and small fish and unlike their cousin the stingray, manta rays don’t have a barb, so you will not be in any danger if you happen to find yourself swimming next to one of these awesome animals while snorkelling or diving in the Great Barrier Reef.
Manta rays have the largest brain to body weight ratio of any living fish, which means that they are even smarter than the average dolphin.
Image Credit: ladyelliot.com.au
Reef Sharks
Often when visitors to Fitzroy Island ask if there are any sharks in the water, they are usually thinking of the dangerous sharks that we’re all familiar with that live in the cold waters of the southern Australian oceans.
The answer to this question is yes, but the species of sharks that you’ll see off Fitzroy Island are generally Reef Sharks such as the Black Tip Reef Shark, Grey Reef Shark and the most commonly seen of all, the White Tip Reef Shark.
Reef sharks are generally harmless, quite timid and don’t pose a threat to people. This is because reef sharks usually don’t go looking for food outside of their normal selection if they are living in an abundant, well balanced environment such as the Great Barrier Reef.
Visitors to the reef around Fitzroy Island will generally witness sharks doing what sharks do best…nothing. White tips are mainly active at night and spend most of the day lying on the sand bed near overhangs and caves.
Image Credit: www2.padi.com
Whales
The most common species of whales that you are likely to see in the water surrounding Fitzroy Island are the well known Humpback Whales, Dwarf Minke Whales and Pilot Whales.
Whales make their annual migration all the way from the Antarctic where they stock up on food, to the warm waters of Tropical North Queensland to raise their young.
The best time for whale watching on the Great Barrier Reef is between May and September. The lookout from the lighthouse on Fitzroy Island is the perfect spot to see these breathtaking animals, but whales have also been spotted by visitors directly off Nudey Beach.
Image Credit: thetourspecialists.com.au
You may even be lucky enough to lay your eyes on the world’s most famous white humpback whale, Migaloo, who is a regular visitor to this part of the world.
The animals we’ve mentioned here are just a handful of the amazing wildlife you’ll have the opportunity to see on your next adventure over to Fitzroy Island.
