Threatened Species

In the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands many animals have disappeared or declined in number. There are four species of high conservation priority which APY Land Management spends considerable effort to protect. These are the Warru (Black-flanked Rock Wallaby, Petrogale lateralis), Tjakura (Great desert skink, Egernia kintorei), Nganamara (Malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata) and the Itjaritjari (Marsupial mole, Notoryctes typholops).

Recently, Dora Haggie, a senior Anangu woman spoke to ABC Landline about her motivation for looking after threatened species. ‘When I was young, I always see my brother killing Warru, rock wallabies. And we always eating, good meat. We don't want to eat them anymore because we looking after now, today. We're working for rock wallaby, looking after. Some fox might come and eat him, that's why we're looking after’. This statement reflects the concern that Anangu have after observing the decline in animals and wanting to prevent these last ones from disappearing.

APY Land Management works with a number of national and state based Recovery Teams and ecologists who provide advice on recovery planning, however much of the work is guided by senior Anangu who have significant knowledge of plants and animals across the lands. A primary aim of all threatened species work is to foster the involvement of Anangu through a variety of training and employment opportunities.