FINDING NGUNBA (PLATYPUS): A SYMBOL OF HOPE AND RESILIENCE IN THE WET TROPICS

Deep in the lush landscapes of Far North Queensland, a moment of excitement unfolded that encapsulated the intersection of cultural heritage, conservation, and cutting edge technology. After months of searching under the guidance of their Elders, the Djabugay Bulmba Rangers had finally found what they were looking for. The cause of their joy? They had rediscovered elusive Ngunba—the platypus—in the waterways north of Kuranda, where it hadn’t been seen by the Djabugay people for decades.

“There it is”: rediscovering a cultural icon  

In the Djabugay language, the platypus is known as Ngunba, and Kuranda, the culturally significant mountain village near to where the search took place, is called Ngunbay—“land of the platypus.” But for many years, this cultural and ecological symbol of healthy waterways had been visibly absent from many creeks in the region. Following the devastating impact of Cyclone Jasper, the wettest cyclone in Australian history, community concerns for the platypus’s fate deepened.

So the rangers, equipped with trail cameras and a lot of determination, embarked on what seemed like a needle-in-a-haystack mission to uncover the truth.

Setting up the cameras required weeks of hard work, with the rangers needing to move through dense rainforest, avoiding stinging trees and razor sharp wait-a-while vines to reach the perfect monitoring sites. This hard work was set to continue, as the cameras captured over 400,000 images that needed to be sorted through, one by one. But within an hour of scanning through the many images, the unmistakable silhouette of a platypus emerged on the screen—appearing in not just one, but four distinct images.

For Dennis Hunter, Cultural Development Officer of the Djabugay Aboriginal Corporations, the moment was invigorating. “It was very exciting,” he shared. “It’s meaningful because it shows Ngunba is out there. Seeing everyone so happy made me even happier.”  

A technological and traditional collaboration  

The Djabugay Ngunba (platypus) Project is part of a broader initiative facilitated by WWF-Australia’s Eyes on Country project, supported by Google.org. This program is currently empowering 11 Indigenous groups across Australia to monitor wildlife using a blend of Traditional Knowledge and modern conservation technology.

From environmental DNA sampling to AI-powered image recognition, the project bridges millennia-old traditions with cutting edge innovation to protect Australia’s unique biodiversity. 

In the waterways surrounding Mona Mona Mission and Flaggy Creek, rangers installed cameras at ten monitoring points, with each location equipped to observe wildlife in both aquatic and forest ecosystems. 

The presence of platypus at three sites wasn’t just a scientific win; it was a reaffirmation of cultural identity and environmental stewardship.  

For Elder Aunty Rita Gutchen, the discovery was deeply personal. Decades ago, she had marvelled at seeing a platypus while swimming in Flaggy Creek near her childhood home on the Mona Mona Mission. “It’s nice they survive,” she reflected. “There’s probably more too. Hopefully, they’re breeding.”  

Trail cameras revealed a wealth of wildlife

The success of this project extends beyond Ngunba (platypus). Trail cameras revealed a wealth of other wildlife species, including cassowaries—an animal sacred to the Djabugay people. One of the individuals detected was a young cassowary juvenile, which was particularly exciting to the Djabugay Bulmba Rangers.

“The cassowary is the symbol of our people,” explained Dennis Hunter. “To see juveniles on the camera and know there’s a population is great.”  

The cameras also documented rainforest dingoes, bandicoots, pademelons and even feral pigs, which pose a significant ecological threat.

By identifying the locations of these invasive pests, rangers can better inform pig control programs, mitigating the erosion and water quality issues that endanger platypus habitats.  

A hopeful future for Djabugay Country

For the Djabugay people, the rediscovery of the platypus is a profound validation of their efforts to merge cultural preservation with conservation science. “The Elders guided this project,” said ranger Caesar Hunter. “They were getting worried because they hadn’t seen a platypus in years. It makes me feel good doing stuff the Elders want done.”  

Emma Spencer, WWF-Australia’s Eyes on Country coordinator, highlighted the broader implications of the work. “This is not just a project about conservation,” she noted. “It’s also a project of culture and people. For the Elders, it’s incredibly important to know the species that they remember while growing up on the mission is still out there.”  

The images from Djabugay Country will now be used to teach AI image identification models to better recognise platypus in the wild, improving conservation efforts across Australia.  

Indigenous Knowledge and Western science are essential partners in safeguarding our planet

The Djabugay Bulmba Rangers’ mission is a reminder that Indigenous Knowledge and modern science are not just compatible—they are essential partners in safeguarding our planet. By intertwining cultural knowledge with innovative technologies, programs like Eyes on Country honour the past while building a sustainable future. 

The joyous discovery of Ngunba is more than just a conservation success story; it’s a testament to resilience, collaboration, and the enduring connection between people and the natural world. It shows that with determination and respect for both traditional and scientific knowledge, even the most elusive symbols of nature can be found again, offering hope for generations to come.  

As the Djabugay Bulmba Rangers continue their work, they carry with them the wisdom of their Elders, and the promise of a thriving future—for Ngunba, the cassowary, and the vibrant ecosystems of the Wet Tropics.

WWF is so proud to support the revitalisation of caring for platypus on Country and healing nature in traditional ways. Thanks to the vital work of the Djabugay Bulmba Rangers and support of partners like Google.org, our ability to collaborate for positive impact and recover post-bushfires is growing stronger and stronger, and it’s incredible to witness it first-hand.

Nature is so interconnected to everything that makes life the sacred journey that it has been for millennia. It is part of who we are and matters to us all. We must protect it for tomorrow.

This year is critical for our environment.

Please, send a message to your political leaders to Choose Nature and secure a thriving future for all.