2012 Pungalina Seven-Emu Scientific Study

The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland, in collaboration with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, undertook a multi-disciplinary scientific study of Pungalina Seven Emu Wildlife Sanctuary between the 25 June to 23 July 2012. View the Pungalina Wetlands Scientific Report.

Thanks to our partners John Kanowski (AWC Ecologist and Liaison), Sharyn Yelverton and Herman Mouthaan (Pungalina Station Managers), our wonderful, hardworking team of RGSQ volunteers, and our top group of Researchers this scientific survey was a great success.

Aims of the Study

To investigate, through a diversity of terrestrial and aquatic-based studies, the natural resources of the Pungalina-Seven Emu Wildlife Sanctuary in the remote northern area of the Gulf Coastal Bioregion; to share the results across scientific disciplines during and after the study; and to contribute information useful to conservation management of the Sanctuary.

Location

Pungalina-Seven Emu Santuary is located in the Northern Territory in the Gulf Coastal Bioregion. The Sanctuary covers more than 3000 sqkm in the catchments of the Calvert and Robinson Rivers. The underlying geology comprises Proterozoic sandstones and dolomite (with extensive caves) and Tertiary sediments. Major ecosystems include savannah woodlands, rocky escarpments and freshwater springs in the upper reaches of the catchments, riverine habitats, and cypress pine woodlands, grasslands, saline flats and monsoon forests on the coastal plains. The Calvert River and its main tributaries are listed as ‘Regionally Important Wetlands’ (National Land and Water Resources Audit, 2002). Seven Emu has extensive swamp and dune areas, flanked on either side by the Robinson and Calvert rivers.

The mean annual rainfall is 975 mm, with a wet season from December to March. Mean maximum temperatures range from 29-38°C; mean minimum temperatures range from 12-24°C (BoM, Wollogorang Station).

Pungalina-Seven Emu is located within the traditional homelands of the Garawa who have native title claims over the Sanctuary. Pungalina and Seven Emu are pastoral leases: AWC has acquired Pungalina outright in 2008, and has entered into a partnership with Frank Shadforth, a Garawa man, to establish a conservation reserve over half of the Seven Emu property.