Warru-ku Nintiringanyi Kanyintjikitjanku

In September 2022, Warru Rangers from the remote Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia travelled for three days to meet with the Nyikina Mangala (NM) Rangers (of Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation) in the South-West Kimberley region. The main goal of the exchange was to discuss the conservation, ecology, and management of the Black-Footed Rock-Wallaby, named Warru on the APY Lands and Wiliji on Nyikina Mangala country.

During their visit, the APY Warru Rangers were welcomed through a smoking ceremony conducted by community elders at Jarlmadangah Burru. The following days consisted of a country visit and NM cultural sharing activities, including boating, fishing, hunting, and crocodile awareness. These activities helped to build relationships between the two ranger groups and allowed the APY Warru Rangers to become familiar with the new environment.

APY Warru Rangers shared their experience and knowledge with NM Rangers about their well-established Warru Project. The exchange was also reinforced through planned discussions, presentations, and film nights, with topics including NM contexts for land management work and Wiliji conservation, NM fire management, APY Warru population monitoring, APY management, and APY predator control. Both ranger teams also conducted a remote camera collection both on foot and by air via helicopter. Data from this collection will be used by NM to identify areas of high Wiliji density.

Overall, the exchange was a success and both groups hope to continue this relationship, with NM rangers hoping to travel to the APY Lands in 2023.