Indigenous rangers seek extra funds to combat bird flu threat to wildlife and communities

Indigenous ranger teams operating in the Northern Territory’s remote Arnhem Land, especially the Arafura Swamp Rangers, are urging the Australian government to increase financial support so they can better monitor and mitigate the spread of the H5N1 bird-flu strain. Coordinator Harry Butler warns that the wetland, home to roughly 300,000 waterbirds and species such as emus, magpie geese and migratory waders, could suffer catastrophic losses without added resources to strengthen ecosystems, remove invasive weeds and control about 20,000 feral buffalo.

Rangers also highlight the danger to remote communities that hunt waterfowl, noting that contact with sick birds or contaminated water poses a health threat, and they request more outreach and protective gear. Derek Ashley and senior ranger Charlie Ramandjarri stress the need for funding to photograph dead birds, collect samples and send them to biosecurity agencies. Marine-mammal expert Carol Palmer adds that proper PPE and DNA analysis capacity are essential as bird-flu has affected dolphins elsewhere. While the government has pledged $47 million for national bird-flu responses and says contracts run until June 2028, advocates like Patrick O'Leary of Country Needs People argue that short- and long-term funding is required to maintain biodiversity resilience.