Kuuku I'yu Northern Kaanju - Chuulangun Rangers

Rangers at Muula as part of threatened species surveys

The Chuulangun Ranger Program started in 2006 with support from Bush Heritage Australia to employ one land management officer to assist with urgent and immediate on-ground land management work across the Northern Kaanju Ngaachi Indigenous Protected Area. In 2008 Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation signed agreements with the Queensland Government under the Wild River Rangers Program (since 2012-13 known as the Land and Sea Indigenous Rangers program) to employ three rangers to support land management and protection on the upper Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers. This was followed by an agreement with the Australian Government's Working on Country Program under the Caring for Our Country Initiative to employ an additional three rangers at Chuulangun. This pogram has also been renamed the Indigenous Ranger Program.
Our Ranger funding under both the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program and the Australian Government Indigenous Ranger Program has since been discontinued. Currently, to employ rangers we rely on the minimal funds available in our IPA budget and funds from one-off projects funded under other programs.

With past and current funding support from the Queensland and Australian governments we have established a small ranger office and large shed for storage and land management operations. Currently our ranger vehicle fleet includes one 4WD vehicle, two quad bikes, and 6-seat ATV.

Our rangers are kept busy with a comprehensive work program which includes:

monitoring, mapping and control of weeds and feral animals
surveying of flora and fauna in collaboration with western scientists
fire management
cutural heritage surveys
survey and collection of plant specifims for collaborative research projects
patrolling the homelands
management of campgrounds
educating visitors about our cultural and land management protocols
maintenance of property, plant and equipment.

When funds are available our rangers undertake accredited training in Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and cultural heritage.

The 2020-21 work program for the Chuulangun Rangers includes:

Ranger patrols
Feral animal management
Tackling weeds on the Kaanju Ngaachi IPA
Cultural heritage site assessments
Maintenance of visitor campgrounds
Fauna surveys - targetting Iyltpi (Cape York Rock-wallaby) and Ching'ka (Northern Quoll) working in collaboration with western scientist and funding from Queensland Community Sustainability Action Grant program.
Vegetation surveys and collection of plant specimens for collaborative "Diabetes Project" with the University of South Australia.
Fire management
Management and monitoring of rock art sites

To find out more about the work of the Chuulangun Rangers contact the Chuulangun Ranger Office.

Ranger Patrick setting up a motion-sensor camera as part of fauna surveys

Rangers and locals undertaking surveys on the IPA

Ranger Farron pulling invasive Snakeweeds

Rangers Torbjorn and Stephen undertaking ATV training

Ranger David collected bulbs from water lily for Diabetes project

Ranger David collecting Nonda Plum for Diabetes project

Ranger Farron removing Hymenachne from wetlands on the IPA

Ranger Patrick setting up a motion-sensor camera

Ranger David engaged in campgrounds maintenance opening up campgrounds after wet season