UNESCO choses KJ’s Waru (Fire) Program to include in their Green Citizens projects — the only one in Australia this year (so far)!

When rains fill the Warntili claypan, the landscape of the desert changes into an abundance of wildlife and activity — and the Parnngurr rangers have captured quite a lot of movement!

Two of KJ’s ranger teams are now managing populations of mulyamiji (Great Desert Skink, Liopholis kintorei) — a species culturally significant for Martu, endemic to the western half of Australia and nationally listed as a vulnerable species.

KJ’s men and women rangers continue to build on 10-year-strong fire-management partnership developed with Wildlife Service WA (PWS) Swan Coastal District fire crew.

The lifting of coronavirus restrictions saw the Jigalong rangers head out near the Canning Stock Route for their annual fire and pakaljarra (Black-flanked Rock-wallaby) work.

Martu rangers have successfully located the elusive Night Parrot in remote salt lake country in Western Australia. For two years, Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa’s ranger teams have been using sound recorders to search for the mysterious birds which are one of the rarest in the world. Experts from the University of Queensland have been assisting the search and, to the rangers’ delight, the hard work has finally paid off!

While the communities have been locking down due to the Coronavirus the rangers teams, while practising physical distancing, have been busy caring for country, looking after elders, engaging in cultural activities and giving their workspaces a touch-up.

Social Ventures Australia (SVA) has featured Martu in their third blog, in a series sharing stories from SVA clients, partners and friends in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, to highlight people and organisations like KJ who are uniquely affected by the coronavirus crisis.

The Kunawarritji Kinyu rangers have been very active on the Canning Stock Route over the past few months. A highlight was a Pujiman Camp held jointly with the Kiwirrkurra rangers. This featured digging for goannas, cat-hunting, carving and building a spinifex shelter. 

The Parnngurr rangers were involved in the firearms training which was undertaken over three days. Theory, cleaning techniques and safe handling of rifles were are covered, along with a day spent on-country with firearms target shooting.