Feral Animals and Conservation - View All Stories - Nature Stories - The West Macs

The West Macs hosts a constant battle between rangers and feral pests.

Journeys

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These are the individual Nature stories, or you can listen to them grouped into topics as Nature journeys.

Carpet Snake

While camping at Ormiston Gorge, keep an eye out for this friendly local resident.

Carpet Snake

Spinifex

The spinifex grass has plans to conquer Central Australia.

Spinifex

Wallaby and Cycads

Protecting the rock wallaby also aids the survival of the cycads they feed on.

Wallaby and Cycads
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Echidnas and Possums

The local echidnas are hard to find, but you can wait forever to see a Possum!

Echidnas and Possums

The Biggest Ghost Gum

Ghost gums may look good in photos, but they're not much use to animals.

The Biggest Ghost Gum

Water Scorpions

The water scorpion has a long and gruesome method of eating its prey.

Water Scorpions
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Resident Pair of Dingoes

At the top of the Simpsons Gap food chain is a pair of Dingoes.

Resident Pair of Dingoes

Frogs Underfoot

The frogs at Simpsons Gap are usually invisible. But they're very patient.

Frogs  Underfoot

A Day in the Life of a Ranger

Working as a park ranger in the West Macs means every day is different.

A Day in the Life of a Ranger
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Black-footed Rock-wallaby

Simpsons Gap is home to a thriving community of Black-footed Rock Wallabies.

Black-footed Rock-wallaby

Buffel Grass

Managing this enviornmental weed is a handful.

Buffel Grass

Feral Animals and Conservation

The West Macs hosts a constant battle between rangers and feral pests.

Feral Animals and Conservation
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The Importance of Waterholes

Some of the flora and fauna of Finke Gorge rely heavily on the presence of ground water for their survival.

The Importance of Waterholes

Hardy Birds

The tough little birds of the West Macs are pet shop favourites around the world.

Hardy Birds

Feral Cats

Feral cats are the most cunning and adaptable of foes.

Feral Cats
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Spotted Nightjar

The Spotted Nightjar is an elusive fly-by-night character.

Spotted Nightjar

Fire Sensitive Plants

Fire is a way of life for much of the park, but some secluded spots offer refuge.

Fire Sensitive Plants

Fire Management

Fire is an important tool for managing the ecology of the area.

Fire Management
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Relic plants

The cycad is a survivor from the times of the dinosaurs.

Relic plants

Disappearing Marsupials

Central Australian animals that were about to disappear forever.

Disappearing Marsupials

Cold Water

Redbank Gorge is a beautiful swimming hole but beware it can be cold.

Cold Water
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Red-tailed Black-cockatoo

The Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo is one of the biggest birds in the West Macs.

Red-tailed Black-cockatoo

Spinifex Pigeons

Meet one of the more common bird species of the region.

Spinifex Pigeons

Wildlife Spotting

Ormiston Gorge is one of the best locations in the West Macs to engage in a little wildlife spotting...

Wildlife Spotting
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River Plants

The gorge at Glen Helen features some very dense fauna surviving around the permanent waterhole.

River Plants

Formation of the Ranges

The spectacular appearance of the West Macs has been billions of years in the making.

Formation of the Ranges

Dead Fish

In winter you may see groups of dead fish in the waterholes. This fascinating story explains why.

Dead Fish
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Bats and Fish

Ever wondered how bats drink?

Bats and Fish

Wildlife Spotting

Ormiston Gorge is possibly the best spot in Central Australia to see wildlife.

Wildlife Spotting

Underwater Plants

Aquatic plants provide an important nursery for fish and insects.

Underwater Plants
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Frogs, Drummers and Skinks

Wildlife is underfoot, overhead and all around...

Frogs, Drummers and Skinks

The Animals of Ormiston Gorge

There's lots of wonderful wildlife to see at Ormiston Gorge.

The Animals of Ormiston Gorge

Why is the Red Centre red?

What gives the landscape its characteristic colour?

Why is the Red Centre red?
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Fauna Survey

The Ochre Pits is not known for its wildlife populations, but Ranger Michael Barritt talks about one of the more exciting…

Fauna Survey

Salty Water

Larapinta is the Arrarnta word for salty water.

Salty Water

Mount Sonder Experience

Being one of the highest points in Central Australia, Mount Sonder offers refuge to some rare plant species.

Mount Sonder Experience
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The Lost Mountain

The current landscape tells the story of what used to be...

The Lost Mountain

Wedge Tailed Eagle

These huge birds are a majestic sight in the skies above the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Wedge Tailed Eagle

Rain Events

When your in the desert you don't expect to be trapped by floods, but Alice Springs has had a couple of large rain events…

Rain Events
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Landsnails

Finding snails in the desert is a big surprise to many visitors.

Landsnails

The hills are alive

There is certainly no shortage of plant life amongst those barren rocks.

The hills are alive

Finke Fish

Fish in the desert live difficult lives.

Finke Fish
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Yabbies

Yabbie vs. Dingo: there can only be one winner.

Yabbies

Stromatolites

A geological snapshot of the early Earth.

Stromatolites

Soil Organisms

The "skin of the Earth" is at work protecting the soil.

Soil Organisms
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