The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has announced the creation of a new national park to protect threatened species.
The Narriearra station covers an area of 1,534 sq km (592 sq miles) in an area in the far north-west of the state.
Its acquisition by authorities marks the largest purchase of private land for conservation in NSW’s history.
The sum paid has not been disclosed but environmental groups welcomed the move.
The new national park extends across floodplains, wetlands and landscapes „currently not found anywhere in NSW national parks”, state environment minister Matt Kean was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
The property, which borders Queensland and lies to the east of the town of Tibooburra, was owned by the O’Connor family for about a century. It is home to more than 25 threatened animal species, including the endangered grey grasswren.
