Great Desert Skink

The Great Desert Skink, also known as Tjakuṟa, is a species that occurs almost exclusively on Aboriginal land and has strong connections to culture. They live in the sandy plains between Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa amongst the spinifex, desert oaks and honey grevilleas.

Tjakuṟa holds Tjukurpa kuṉpu (strong culture, songs, sites, and stories) for Aṉangu Traditional Owners of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and across the Central Desert. Tjakuṟa is now threatened due to the impacts of wildfire and feral cat predation, however, they continue to survive in areas where rangers conduct traditional burning and feral cat management.

Tjakuṟa is one of 110 species prioritised for recovery under the Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan. Every March an annual tjakuṟa survey is held, called Mulyamiji March, where ranger groups across Central Australia do a survey to gather data on the Great Desert Skink. This is an important part of the Action Plan for this unique lizard, and Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and both the Muṯitjulu Mala and Central Land Council Tjakuṟa ranger groups play a key role in this initiative.