Collaborative effort aims to rescue Great Desert Skink from extinction
Indigenous rangers, scientists, and traditional owners are working together to protect the Great Desert Skink, a reptile facing a significant decline in population. Once widespread across Australia’s inland, the species is now estimated to have between 5,000 and 7,000 individuals remaining, classifying it as threatened.
Ecologist Lara Paijmans, involved in the national species recovery plan, noted that the skinks are now only found in approximately 20 locations. She explained, “We’ve seen a decrease in surveys we did in 2026, but we’re not sure if that’s because of increased rain that made it hard to find their burrows or if there’s actually a decrease happening.”
The Great Desert Skink possesses unique characteristics, including live birth and a communal burrow system where family members, including grandparents, parents, and children, live together. “It has live young and they live with their family for two years in a communal burrow which is quite unusual for lizards,” Ms Paijmans said. Remarkably, they also share a communal latrine.
Approximately 20 ranger groups, spanning the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Western Australia, have been conducting annual population surveys since 2023. These include the Tjakura Rangers, based in Mutitjulu near Uluru, who manage the Katiti Petermann Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). The skink, known by various First Nations names like Mulyamiji, Warrarna, and Nampu, holds cultural significance and is connected to creation stories.
“There’s not a lot of Tjakura sites in the world today, not as many as there used to be, so we’re just fortunate to have some here on the Katiti Petermann,” said Garth Forrester, IPA regional coordinator. He added that the skink was historically a food source for Aboriginal people, but hunting ceased due to declining numbers. The goal is to restore the skink population to a more common state.
Efforts to protect the Great Desert Skink involve fire management, predator control, and camera trap monitoring. Predators include native snakes and goannas, as well as introduced species like rabbits, cats, and occasionally foxes. “Monitor the sites, monitor the population, check to see if there’s droppings, tracks … checking out to see what other animals are here,” Mr. Forrester explained.
Another survey is planned for next year to assess the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
Source
“Indigenous rangers, scientists work together to revitalise Great Desert Skink population”
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