Rachel Paltridge

Pintupi Elder Mantua Nangala James burning spinifex. Dannica Shultz

March 26, 2025

Fire revival: how Australia’s desert people use ancient wisdom to protect the endangered bilby

Rachel Paltridge, The University of Western Australia; Digital Storytelling Team, The Conversation; Mantua Nangala James, Indigenous Knowledge, and Yukultji Napangati Ward, Indigenous Knowledge

A return to traditional Indigenous burning practices in the Gibson and Great Sandy deserts is helping protect the ninu, or greater bilby.

Kiwirrkurra Traditional Owner Yukultji Napangati sharing tracking knowledge with ecologist Rachel Paltridge. Nicolas Rakotopare

September 26, 2024

Reading desert sands – Indigenous wildlife tracking skills underpin vast monitoring project

Sarah Legge, Australian National University; Braedan Taylor, Indigenous Knowledge; Jaana Dielenberg, Charles Darwin University; Pius Gregory, Indigenous Knowledge, and Rachel Paltridge, The University of Western Australia

Footprints, droppings, diggings and other signs left behind by animals reveal a lot to a skilled observer. Indigenous knowledge feeds into one of Australia’s largest wildlife monitoring endeavours.

Bruce Greatwitch/Broome Bird Observatory via AAP

September 22, 2024

‘Breakthrough discovery’: Indigenous Rangers in outback WA find up to 50 night parrots – one of Australia’s most elusive birds

Rachel Paltridge, The University of Western Australia; Clifford Sunfly, Indigenous Knowledge, and Nicholas Leseberg, The University of Queensland

Urgent action is now needed to protect these vulnerable populations and ensure the night parrot doesn’t become extinct.

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Fire revival: how Australia’s desert people use ancient wisdom to protect the endangered bilby

Reading desert sands – Indigenous wildlife tracking skills underpin vast monitoring project

‘Breakthrough discovery’: Indigenous Rangers in outback WA find up to 50 night parrots – one of Australia’s most elusive birds

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