Kija Ranger wetland surveys find thriving dingo populations and no feral animals

In June, the Kija Rangers and KLC Ecologist Marlee Hutton conducted wetland surveys around Warmun community.

The rangers conducted wetland health checks to monitor for weeds, feral animals and other significant threats to the environment.

The team also set up camera traps, conducted bird surveys and sampled the water for eDNA to collect information on the different animals that use the wetlands.

eDNA is a new technology that analyses micro particles (skin, saliva, hair etc) left behind by an animal in the water, and provides rangers with valuable insights for land management.

Kija Rangers preparing to set out camera traps.

Two months later in August, when the rangers collected the cameras, they were excited to find no evidence of feral animals at one site, as well as a healthy dingo population.

Camera trap image of a Dingo captured from the survey.

The work of the KLC ecologist is funded by the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW). The KLC was awarded funds by FNPW to assist rangers in threatened species work, which allows for the ecologist to be able to support the rangers to build their capacity in monitoring activities. Thank you to FNPW for funding this crucial work.