Martu people track endangered species

Crossing sand dunes, rocky country and weaving through the Spinifex, Martu people regularly track threatened and invasive species in the bush.

About 180 Martu have been employed on a part-time basis over the past three years, funded by Rangelands National Resource Management WA under the Caring for our Country program.

The Commonwealth program, which includes biodiversity surveys, water testing and controlled burning, runs out of Jigalong, Parnngurr and Punmu communities, with teams predominately consisting of female recorders.

The women use traditional ecological knowledge, and receive Western technology training in how to conduct surveys, and trap and monitor animals using equipment.

The program has been described as being extremely successful and is seen as a great way to share knowledge between generations.

Participant Ivy Bidu praised its relevance.

“This program is really important as a lot of elders and young people get involved in coming out on country and learning about the old ways and other Western ways” she said.

The biodiversity surveys particularly focus on threatened species lists prepared under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, with endangered and vulnerable species included.

The marsupial mole, mulgara, greater bilby, black-flanked rock wallaby and the great-desert skink are among those monitored.

An exciting discovery was made in this work, when evidence of Australia’s smallest marsupial, the long-tailed planigale, was found.

The tiny animals, which weigh between 4g and 5g, are usually found in the northern tropics.

Parnngurr’s Leah Robinson said the trips help to aid employment among Martu people.

“Children join me on these trips and they learn from me about tracking and hunting,” she said.

“It is really important for children to come out, as they can have a job when they finish school.”

To find out more email Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa’s Zan King at zan.king@kj.org.au.