By Keira Jenkins
Discovering new populations of “surprising creatures” and passing on cultural knowledge are among the benefits of a program aiming to address declining river health.
Focusing on the Mandoon Bilya (Helena River) catchment in the Perth region, the Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association has worked to map cultural heritage, test water quality, monitor wildlife and develop a plan for the health of the river.
Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association chairperson Walter McGuire said since colonisation river health has degraded, with less than one per cent in pristine condition.
A baby Quokka at night in the Perth Hills.Credit: Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association
“It’s our role and responsibility as the First People of this land,” he said.
“Since colonisation we’ve been denied our responsibility and role so we’re bringing it back through this for people to understand this is how thing have been done for millennia.”
Senior elder Greg Ugle said looking after the health of the river has important flow-on effects for the entire environment.
“Water quality is what determines the wildlife,” he said.
“We’ve found a number of surprising creatures within the Perth metropolitan region, which for us is exciting.”
These include a new population of quokkas, caught on camera in the Perth Hills.
While quokkas are known to occur in isolated locations in the Darling Range, it’s the first time the creatures have been photographed by the general public in the Perth Hills.
“Looking at these photographs, this is an important find for me,” Ugle said.
“As a Noongar Traditional Elder, my intention is to be sure to protect these little animals.”
Finding evidence of this quokka population in the area could help to inform conservation efforts for the species.
“These little animals are also forgotten and mainly thought of as just being on Wadjemup/Rottnest Island,” McGuire said.
“We know ourselves that these and possibly others are out there in various locations, it’s just a matter of capturing them on camera.”
He said working together was the only way to get the best outcomes for Country.
“What this project does is actually bring people together, to understand that we’re just one human race, but many cultures and many differences and we need to come together to look after planet Earth,” he said.
AAP