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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 52(1)

Adaptive management of a remote threatened-species population on Aboriginal lands

J. L. Read https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0605-5259 A * , R. West https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8577-3317 B , Grant Nyaningu and Warru Rangers C , Oska Mills C and B. L. Phillips D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.

B Wild Deserts, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

C APY Land Management, Umuwa, SA, Australia.

D School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia.

* Correspondence to: ecological67@gmail.com

Handling Editor: Sarah Legge

Wildlife Research 52, WR24050 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR24050
Submitted: 4 April 2024  Accepted: 28 November 2024  Published: 3 January 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

Adoption and refinement of monitoring and management techniques is important for improving the conservation status of threatened fauna, especially in remote areas with high logistical and financial costs. In Australia, many of these remote conservation projects are conducted by Traditional Owners and Indigenous Ranger groups, with input and support from various stakeholders including government and non-government organisations, and third-party ecologists. A collaborative approach to project development and adaptive management in response to stakeholder objectives is essential for long-term project success.

Aims

In the remote context of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, we collaboratively develop a sustainable and robust monitoring and management method for warru (black-flanked rock wallabies) that recognises the skills, interests, and capacity of all project members. In developing this method over 22 years, we also evaluate the influence of rainfall and predator-control strategies on warru populations to inform optimised management.

Methods

Practical and economic capabilities and preferences of both Traditional Owners and external scientists for monitoring and management actions were evaluated. Data from long-term cage trapping, and scat and spotlight counts of warru were compared with population trajectories, annual rainfall, and management strategies.

Key results

Population indices with lower resource requirements, such as scat and spotlight counts, provide trends consistent with more resource-intensive capture–mark–recapture studies. The warru scat index was negatively associated with the scat index for a competing herbivore (kanyala, euro). Warru growth rates were positively influenced by rainfall. Contrary to initial results from other regions, warru populations declined during periods when we undertook predator baiting. By contrast, targeted shooting of feral cats and foxes was associated with increased warru population growth rates.

Conclusions

These results suggest that a minimum of four groups of five scat quadrats in prime refuge areas and equivalent sampling in prime feeding zones (total 40 quadrats) is appropriate for rock-wallaby monitoring. Predator control via shooting appears preferable to baiting, which may have negative effects by removing dingoes, which prey on the competing kanyala.

Implications

Predator control via shooting is an effective way to support warru populations, and repeated scat counts are an effective monitoring approach for warru.

Abstract

Abstract in Pitjantjatjara

Nganana, ngurintjaku ngaranyi, panya yaaltji-yaaltjingkula. Anangu Tjuta alpamilalku kuka panya mawiyaringkunytja tjuta atunymara kanyintjaku ngurangka.

Waaka tjutawanungkula nyakukatingi munu numpa tjuta tjunangi munu alpamilaningi warru tjuta New Well-lawanu. Waaka nyanga paluru ngarakatingi, 1999-nguru, 2021 ku wangkara. Warruku kuna tjutala nyangangi munu nampa tjunangi munula nyangangi tili pulkawanungku palunyatjananya nyakunytjikitjangku. Nganana kulira witinintjikitjangku palya warru nyakunytjikitjangku, palu mani pulka munu waaka kunpu warru witintjaku. Nyanga paluru wirunya ngarangi munu mani tjukutjuku, ka alatjingkalta Anangu tjutaku kutjupa kutjupa tjutaku mani ma-tjunkuku.

Nganana wangkanyi panya alatji palyantjaku. Panya manta 8-pala ngaranyi. Kala alatji pukarangku warruku kuna tjuta nampa tjunkuku, manta 8-pala nyara palulanguru.

Warru Tjuta winkiringu kapingku pulkara year winkingku puintjitjangka munu ngaya inura tjuta, papa inura tjutakulula pauningi nyara palularangka. Palu patjina tjunkuntjitjangku ma-mankurparingu munu kanyala tjutangku warru tjutaku mai ngalkula wiyaningi. Patjinangkukula papa inura tjuta iluntanangi panya papa paluru tjana kanyala munu papa panya nyatji pulkanya patjara ngalkupayi. Ka ngaya inura tjuta munu papa inura nyantji pulka tjutakutju nyakukatinytjaku munu palunyatjananya kutja iluntankutjaku. Alatjikula mukuringanyi palyantjikitja.

Keywords: Anangu, dingoes, feral cats, First Nations, monitoring, population modelling, predator baiting, rock-wallaby, scat counts.

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