Watarru Land Management

Camels | Clinic | Community Office | Essential Services | Land Management | School | Store

The Watarru Land Management Program is an integrated program which involves all residents of the Watarru Community. The Watarru Community Members have agreed construct a system which has three main groups they are the Tjilpis, the Minmas and the Feral Animal Team.

The Tjilpis include; Bernard Tjalkuri, Kelly Tjulyanya, Sandy Brumby, and others do assist are responsible for the identification of flora and fauna species, Caring for Country including Rock Hole cleaning and working closely with the Watarru School Students.

The Minmas include; Kangitja Mervin, Wipana Jimmy and Nola Brumby, sometimes others do assist, often take out the children and show them bush tucker as well as working with the School. They also harvest Bush medicines which grow in significant numbers in some areas.

The Feral Animal Team headed by Charlie Anytjipalya is developing a very successful Feral Camel harvesting and sale business. There are three other members of this team including Aaron Burdett, Ian Milera and Tommy Burdett who work as a team to ensure the job is done.

The mustering of wild camels is ongoing with many loads ending up being exported to Saudi Arabia whilst others have been culled or treated and released.

This project has many benefits to the Community including; employment, training and education programs in wildlife management, enterprise development, cultural maintenance, as well as health and welfare.

As well as the harvesting of Camels they also shoot for Foxes and receive a bounty Feral Cats. Dingoes are being shot as well because they can result in decreases in the breeding potential of Emus

Kuka Kanyini

This project is a partnership between Watarru Community and the Department of Environment and Heritage This project focuses on restoring and protecting threatened animal and plant species and the land.

The work involves removing feral animals, controlling fire, improving water supply and replanting – focusing on plants that provide bush tucker to local communities.

This project has been endorsed by the recommendations from the report overseen by Peter Copley and the traditional owners of this Community. The recommendations have been extensive and very detailed in a survey format which was carried out by the D.E.H

The survey found 700 different plant species – 44 of them new and 33 previously not recorded reptiles.

The study also confirmed that there could be up to 18 species extinct.

This Kuka Kanyini project has been supervised by Charlie Anytjipalya who is the Chairman of the Watarru Community.

There is an excellent collaboration with the entire Community here as the Watarru School also plays an important role in collecting data, which included video recordings of stories told by old people.