Aurukun
- Ranger team
- APN Aurukun Rangers
- Host organisation
- Aak Puul Ngantam (APN) Cape York
Aak Puul Ngantum (APN) rangers work on their Southern Wik homelands on western Cape York Peninsula. Their country includes spectacular coastal wetlands and areas of major ecological significance. Rangers maintain and conserve the cultural and environmental diversity of Southern Wik and Kugu Country. They assist Traditional Owners to share their traditional knowledge with younger generations, encouraging community participation and returning to country.
APN rangers’ work includes:
- conducting controlled burns and follow up monitoring across an extensive area of country as part of the Carbon Abatement project; and development of the APN Fire Management Thum Nhoom plan
- survey and management of weeds
- feral animal management, including aerial abatement of pigs
- monitoring feral cattle and establishing cattle exclusion zones with fencing for improved biodiversity conservation outcomes
- turtle nest monitoring, through on-ground surveys, aerial surveys, and use of high-res drones
- marine debris surveys and beach cleanups
- traditional knowledge sharing through Learning on Country activities with students, such as beach cleanups and turtle surveys
- assisting the community in taking young people out to their homelands with the annual ‘Returning Generation’ Camp for year 6 students from Koolkan State School.