Increasing the number of wildlife preferred by Aboriginal communties in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands, Australia (original) (raw)

In the 107,000-km2 Pitjantjatjara Lands of central Australia, Anangu, the Aboriginal people, are working with scientists and wildlife managers to restore traditional land management practices (such as patch burning and waterhole cleaning), to implement some others (such as controlling feral animals, and identifying refuge-areas) and to exchange information. The program known as "Kuka Kanyini" ("looking after game animals") is increasing native species that are preferred as bushtucker and are critical to rural subsistence livelihoods (such as the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus, and the emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae). It is also engaging Anangu in reintroduction programs for less common and locally extinct native species. It is motivating Anangu, maintaining culture and creating employment. It is a good example of scientists and Aboriginal people working together and highlights a new focus for programs to address community health and the educational challenges facing...