31 July 2025
WORKING TOGETHER TO CARE FOR WILIJI AND COUNTRY
In celebration of World Ranger Day, discover how Nyikina Mangala Rangers and WWF-Australia are working together to protect the endangered wiliji rock-wallaby through a powerful blend of Indigenous Knowledge and modern science—strengthening culture, conservation, and Country.
By the Nyikina Mangala Rangers and WWF-Australia Biocultural Solutions Program team.
High in the rocky hills of Nyikina Mangala Country in the west Kimberley lives a small creature called the wiliji – a kind of rock-wallaby that’s found nowhere else in the world. It’s endangered, which means there aren’t many left.
That’s why, since 2012, the Nyikina Mangala Rangers have been working closely with WWF-Australia to help protect it. This is more than just a science project. It’s about working together, sharing knowledge, and building trust.
“We need to protect wiliji for generations to come.”
Nyikina Mangala Ranger
Collaborating to better understand and protect the wiliji
The wiliji isn’t just important because it’s rare – it’s also a culturally significant animal. The Nyikina Mangala people have a strong connection to wiliji and the rocky Country it lives on. They know these places deeply – knowledge that comes from their Elders and ancestors who have looked after this land for thousands of years.
Together, we’ve been using a sensor camera to understand where wiliji live and how their numbers are changing. The team – made up of rangers and ecologists – worked together to design the surveys, place the cameras, and interpret what the images were telling us using the latest AI technology. This mix of cultural knowledge and science has given us a much clearer picture of how wiliji are doing across different parts of Country.
“Wiliji can tell us if we’re doing a good job. When their numbers improve, we’re doing well”
Head Nyikina Mangala Ranger
On Country Knowledge is power
But it’s not just about collecting data. The team has also been using the results to guide action – including managing fire the right way, controlling pest animals, and protecting key rocky habitats. These are practical ways to care for wiliji that also strengthen culture and connections to Country.
“Wildfire is the most important threat to wiliji”
Nyikina Mangala Elder
Working side-by-side like this has made our project stronger. It shows that when Indigenous Knowledge and modern science come together, we get better results for wildlife, for people, and for Country.
“We’ve been hand-picked to represent our tribe as rangers, which means we need to work together with modern day science now. We’re here to do a job for our old people, and ensure our young people learn. My Elders told me that in order to do our job properly we need to fall in love with it and take pride in what you do. It gives you a good feeling. That’s where modern science and traditional techniques work hand in hand to get a better outcome.”
Senior Nyikina Mangala Ranger and cultural advisor
Supporting self-determination keeps Knowledge and community strong
Caring for wiliji is about more than saving one species. It’s about supporting self-determination, keeping knowledge strong, and showing how collaboration can lead the way in conservation. It's how we’ll keep caring for special places – and special animals – for generations to come.
For more detailed information on this collaborative research, please refer to the original article published in Wildlife Research: Monitoring the Endangered wiliji on Nyikina Mangala Country.