Keeping Pakulyarra Safe - A 40-Year Success Story
In the remote Western Desert during the mid-1980s, an extraordinary discovery was made. WA Parks and Wildlife (now the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions) found a fragile population of black-flanked rock wallabies, known to the Martu as pakulyarra, at Kaalpi. This population was one of the last known in the region, teetering on the edge of extinction. In collaboration with Martu Traditional Owners, Parks and Wildlife began monitoring and protecting these endangered animals, laying the groundwork for one of the region’s longest-running conservation efforts.
In 2009, KJ established its first ranger program in Jigalong. Martu Traditional Owners Arthur Samson, Timmy Patterson, and Mark Jeffries—who had been instrumental in the conservation efforts during the 1980s—became the first senior rangers to lead the team. Together with younger Martu rangers, the Jigalong ranger team took on the critical task of protecting the pakulyarra, working closely with Parks and Wildlife staff to continue safeguarding this endangered species by introducing baiting for feral cats and monitoring the population.
2024 Update: A Continuing Success Story
Fifteen years later, the KJ Jigalong Rangers’ conservation work continues to deliver promising results. In 2024, the team installed 27 remote sensor cameras at Pinpi (Durba Springs) to monitor the pakulyarra population. The findings were encouraging—an increase in pakulyarra sightings compared to the previous year, and even more exciting, juvenile pakulyarra were captured on 15 of the cameras, confirming successful reproduction and a thriving population.
Even more positive was the absence of foxes and a low presence of feral cats, detected on just 28% of the cameras. These results reflect the effectiveness of the rangers' land management strategies, particularly their annual aerial baiting program, which has played a crucial role in protecting the pakulyarra from predators.
The KJ Parnngurr Rangers have also been hard at work, setting up cameras in areas where both pakulyarra and wiminyji (northern quoll) had previously been spotted, with ongoing efforts to monitor and protect these species.
2013: The First Translocation to Safeguard Pakulyarra
By 2012, the population had increased in numbers to allow a translocation to be an option. KJ rangers worked with the environment department staff to ‘take back home’ 26 pakulyarra to Jilukurru and Pinpi where they had once lived. This moment marked a key milestone in the long-term conservation of the species. Watch the trailer and/or full-length film below to relive the incredible journey that started with this critical translocation and continues to inspire the conservation efforts we celebrate today.
Please note, Martu families and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers, the film contains images of people who have since passed away. Please be careful when viewing.
Trailer
Full Length Film