Nganngi from the desert to the mountains

Learning together and passing on knowledge is an important part of being a desert ranger. With a newly discovered species of Nganngi (frog) on APY Lands, APY Rangers decided to connect up with Wiradjuri and Walgalu rangers to learn about how they look after the Corroboree frog on their country.

After discovering the new Nganngi species in a remote desert spring, APY Rangers are leading the project Nganngi Kanyini (Kanyini meaning interconnectedness, caring, nurturing and support), with a plan to use two-way science to learn more about the best way to look after Nganngi.

Almost 3,000kms away in the Kosciuszko National Park, Wiradjuri and Walgalu rangers, the Traditional Owners of the Snowy Mountains, have successfully rehabilitated the Corroboree frog. It belongs to the same family as the Nganngi found in Kalka and Mimili on APY Lands.

The APY Rangers were keen to learn how Wiradjuri and Walgalu mob were taking care of the Corroboree frog, hoping to bring some ideas back to help them look after the new Nganngi on Pitjantjatjara Country, so they made the long journey to the rugged mountain landscape of Kosciuszko to connect up with the Wiradjuri/Walgalu mob.

Throughout the week the rangers travelled through the Snowy Mountains, checking out frog habitat and enclosures, visiting important cultural sites, and yarning up together about country and land management.

APY Rangers also had the opportunity to talk to the local Indigenous primary school about desert ranger work, showing them the Warru Homecoming film and answering many questions about living and working in the desert. The children performed the dance about the life and rebirth of Gyak – the creator and Corroboree frog.

Cultural exchange was an important part of the trip, acting as a strong connection between teams. As many rangers find on exchanges, despite their differences in lived experience and the environments they work in, the common goal and desire to look after country is always strong.

Strong friendships were formed between the rangers, and they are looking forward to September, when the Wiradjuri/Walgalu mob will travel to APY Lands to see how the rangers are getting on with their new frog monitoring program.