Arafura Swamp Rangers

Indigenous rangers fear for culturally important birds as bird flu spreads Indigenous ranger groups are calling for more money to help them protect vulnerable bird and animal species from the threat of H5N1 bird flu.

Our Rangers have been working hard installing Gamba Grass awareness signs in the Arafura Swamp IPA. Gamba Grass (Andropogon gayanus) is a W**d of National Significance (WONS) and has had devastating impacts across the Top End since its introduction in the19030's. Our Rangers have done a great job eradicating Gamba Grass where and when we find it. Please help us in keeping our communities and natural areas Gamba Grass free, by practicing hygienic biosecurity methods, and following the directions outlined in our new signs! Special thanks to the Gamba Eradication and Biosecurity Conservation Project (GEBC) team for assisting us every year in all stages of our Gamba program.

These shorebird surveys have put Sandy Point on the map as a place with nationally significant numbers of Eastern Curlew, Great Knot and Lesser Sand Plover. The counters picked up 30 different species of birds in less than 2 hours, with at least 18 species of migratory shorebirds on the second day. There's only 35000 eastern curlews in the world and 70 of them were at Sandy Point.

Our Rangers work hard to protect Country from different threats, including Avian Influenza (bird flu), buffaloes, pigs and invasive w**ds such Mimosa w**d (Mimosa pigra).

Read what some of our Rangers say about the different work we do.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-26/indigenous-rangers-concerned-h5n1-bird-flu-risk-in-remote-nt/107074886?fbclid=Iwb21leAT7TjVjbGNrBPtOLnBkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeY8SBDmCR92M5HzN2cgcJODgMBdJu0tBuJiC9SHwIIG-YJPE8AlHQK2lxMNs_aem_Az8Smacd50uYPryJ3CnzVw

Indigenous rangers fear for culturally important birds as bird flu spreads Indigenous ranger groups are calling for more money to help them protect vulnerable bird and animal species from the threat of H5N1 bird flu.

Senior Ranger, Mali Djarrbal spoke to ABC Darwin about Gebang Palms (Corypha utan) on 4 June 26. Mali explained these impressive plants are of great significance to the Arafura Swamp Rangers.
Did you know?
- the Australian population of Gebang Palms is confined to the tropical wetlands of the Arafura Swamp in Arnhem Land and also in Cape York.
- the trees are monocarpic, meaning they only flower once, and will die soon after dropping their fruit.
- although not formally recognised as a threatened species in the NT, Rangers are concerned local numbers are declining.
You can hear Mali's interview here:
https://app.mediaportal.com/isentia/ #/playnow/v2?id=R00133803472&channel=ABC%20Radio%20Darwin%20&location=Australia&date=2026-06-04T07:21:58&program=Breakfast&item_id=1353062129&prospect_id=3668853729&is_video=false&keywords=Bush%20Heritage&expiry=1812093718&signature=xRrCuypZr8Xtcnpw0~mBh4xyzTK-eeXL3jTSnm37KZZWtTng-xtAewD9mDoh6~2w0DZUmzRSq~OJeZzWEX5gwgTD58DpbtfA9Qhhbk~KKTjXZ6TysOhmd3MTwrTVfVjX0h4Ii1EKOhS5NvWqhDeuNBixmEu4UQPYfqvhyGR44AZ5s2YVDjkzEkON1UuX7ix--h5ShC3xJ-XGQnGzpz00tPnEJEj8B0K3WY929OEb294qTEBOhchQgsZRIXCM3NWT~RkZKqsp55S5ivhsfblx7N2G5PHA18Ebz50403ysho9dKPwKNspPvGQn0wCqM3sYmPS38uWHesrHe9l~ntuwDQ__

Shining a spotlight on Ranger Derek and the work our Rangers do to protect Australia from Avian Influenza/Bird Flu.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HzEniTqpg/

Meet Derek, Team Leader for the Southeast Arafura Rangers at Donydji and Dhupuwamirri in Northeast Arnhem Land. As Australia prepares for the risk of H5 bird flu, rangers like Derek help protect birds and Country.

“I am from Dhupuwamirri homeland in Northeast Arnhem Land. My totems are the wäk (crow) and the birrkpirrk (plover). My mother’s totem is the gurrumatji (magpie goose). I have a responsibility to care for these birds, because they are in my songlines.”

“Our people have a strong connection to all animals and birds – they are part of our culture, our songlines and our kinship system. If our birds are sick, we will get a really bad feeling.”

Derek and his team regularly monitor Country and collect samples to check that birds remain healthy.

“Keeping our Country healthy is very important. If some birds get sick, more birds could get sick. Everyone should keep an eye on Country to make sure it’s healthy, not just rangers.”

Job opportunity available at ASRAC in Ramingining:

https://nrmjobs.com.au/jobs/2026/20029162/ranger-coordinator?fb=1&fbgi=1532162730697379&fbclid=IwdGRjcASMeB1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR6UOIN3ky3MbBSDOXy-zNpd_8Qi3S6EWMGrA8Hi0P5Xb2n9YAysSQfQ9lcwvQ_aem_1I_WrEzwLSeUDKsiE12k7Q

Ranger Coordinator Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation (ASRAC) - Ramingining, Arnhem Land, NT