Paruku rangers join forces on feral camel management

Feral camels on Paruku Country

In April, the Paruku Rangers participated in a two day consultation workshop on managing feral species in the Great Sandy Desert with a strong focus on reducing the damage being caused by feral camels. 

The workshop was run by the North Australian Land and Sea Management Alliance’s (NAILSMA) Protecting Country Against Invasive Species (PCAIS) Program.

There were 23 participants including the Ngururrpa and Kumirrki Ranger teams and Traditional Owners from Tjurabalan, Ngururrpa and Ngurra Kayanta.

The workshop was an important opportunity for the ranger groups to connect and discuss opportunities for collaboration, establish priority locations for camel management and discuss their concerns and ideas around the control of other feral species in the region such as feral cats and cane toads. 

Feral animals like camels, cats and cane toads are having a harmful impact on native wildlife, vegetation, ecosystems, waterholes and community infrastructure in the Great Sandy Desert and across the Kimberley. Indigenous ranger groups are working to manage feral animal populations to keep Country healthy.

Earlier this year the Paruku Rangers made national news discussing their concerns about cane toad arrival at Lake Gregory and the implementation of cane toad management programs including tadpole trapping.