Community at the heart of Tjakuṟa survey
Tjakuṟa (Great Desert Skink) are large, burrowing lizards reaching up to 44 cm long. They hold deep cultural significance to Aṉangu and other First Nations groups in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia.
The Indigenous Desert Alliance has run a national monitoring program for the reptiles since 2023, with the annual count covering 48 sites across the 3 states. Sixty-six active Tjakuṟa burrows – one more than last year – were found inside the boundaries of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park (UKTNP) during the 2026 Mulyamiji March count.
This year’s results indicate that Tjakuṟa numbers in UKTNP may be stabilising after a decline between 2024 and 2025. However, no active burrows have been observed at the site near Kata Tjuṯa for 2 years, suggesting that colony may no longer be present.
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Country and Culture Manager, Tracey Guest says the community element is very important in the count at UKTNP brings together the Aṉangu community, Mala Rangers , Parks Australia staff, Indigenous Desert Alliance staff, students from local schools, and volunteers to search the 33 10-hectare plots on foot. “For the students, Mulyamiji March is a hands‑on learning opportunity, as they build on their knowledge and understanding of Tjakuṟa and their importance on Country, learning from older Aṉangu,” she said.
“As well as joining the survey, the young people are encouraged to conduct their own research and share their knowledge with their families and the community, so it’s a really great cultural and learning experience for them.”
New tech, traditional knowledge
Staff from Parks Australia’s Office of the Chief Remote Pilot have been part of the count since 2023, assisting with drone-based mapping, which supports the on-ground identification of Tjakuṟa burrows and helps increase the area being covered.
Chief Remote Pilot Dr Renee Bartolo says the team also worked with Traditional Owners to find new burrows.
“One of the senior men learned how to fly the drone, and it was fascinating to watch his approach compared to ours,” she said.
“We were looking for the dark red mounds of sand that are a tell-tale sign of Tjakuṟa burrows, but he was essentially tracking from the air, finding tracks in the sand and following them.”
In October 2025, monitoring also began at 20 Tjakuṟa burrows for signs of predator activity, combining camera traps and observation.
Very few predators were recorded and there were no signs of predation, but fox and cat tracks were observed at several sites.
In May, an invasive predator trapping program will begin in the park, with Mala Rangers taking part in training, and students from Muṯitjulu Primary School adding to their knowledge of protecting native species such as Tjakuṟa on Country.
