Gudjuda Programs
Gudjuda Land and Sea Rangers
The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) deliver the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program that focus on looking after the environment.
Gudjuda has five and a half Indigenous Land and Sea rangers and they do various activities on country. Activities include:
- Weed and feral animal management
- Fire management
- Turtle monitoring, turtle tagging and turtle rescue
- Protection and preserve cultural sites
- Support in the management of local national parks
- Increase community awareness of cultural heritage through local school presentations
- Participation in local community events to showcase Gudjuda Rangers activities
Weed, Feral animal & Fire management
Gudjuda Rangers do on-ground weed, feral animal and fire management activities in the local region.
Gudjuda Rangers have fire management training and have gun licences to carry out humane destruction of feral animals when requested.
Gudjuda Rangers works in partnerships with the local shire council and Qld Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) to support them with weed, feral animal and fire management within the region.
Turtle monitoring, turtle tagging & turtle rodeos
Traditional Owners, Board members and Indigenous volunteers have been involved with Gudjuda for over ten years in turtle tagging and monitoring. Gudjuda has tagged and released over 1,200 turtles.
Gudjuda Rangers helps scientists to collect information on the spread of the fibropapiloma virus in green sea marine turtles.
The fibropapiloma virus causes blindness, blocks internal organs and death among green sea marine turtles.
Turtle monitoring is between November-February each year and Gudjuda Rangers record the number of turtles laying their eggs on local beaches.
At the turtle rodeos the Gudjuda Rangers catch the turtles, collect data on each turtle, tag the turtles and then release turtles back to sea.
Gudjuda works in partnership with James Cook University and WWF, the Queensland Government’s Turtle Research program, and the Queens Beach Action Group to better understand marine turtles.
Gudjuda Rangers work within the community to protect and conserve coastal marine life.
Cultural school presentations
Gudjuda Junior Ranger Program
The Gudjuda Junior Ranger program targets Indigenous students in grade 11-12 and provides them hands-on experience and educational pathways to encourage Indigenous youth to take up careers in land and sea management.
Gudjuda Junior Rangers get training in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) recording, GPS, film making, and also have fun doing a Skin Divers course with a snorkelling trip to the reef.
The Gudjuda Junior Ranger program also includes students of all ages and encourages students to care for the environment and play a part in looking after land and sea country.
