Wangkamadla community hails Pilungah Reserve's new special wildlife protection
Three generations of Wangkamadla people gathered to mark the Queensland government's approval of Pilungah Reserve as a special wildlife reserve, ending pending mining permits.
Wangkamadla elders, including Avelina Tarrago, her mother Isabel, and younger relatives, convened at the Painted Gorge of Pilungah Reserve to celebrate its designation as Queensland’s third special wildlife reserve. Tarrago, a barrister and director of Mulligan River Aboriginal Corporation, succeeded in having four mining and petroleum exploration leases withdrawn, averting damage similar to the Juukan Gorge incident. The reserve, spanning 446,000 hectares, was purchased by Bush Heritage Australia after cattle operations ceased, and native-title was recognized in 2021.
Special wildlife status, unique to Queensland, offers park-level protection based on cultural values and will require annual government reporting on wildlife health. Experts like archaeologist Iain Davidson highlighted the extensive rock-art network linking the site to broader Central Australian ceremonial landscapes. Bush Heritage’s Felicity Shapland sees the move as a template for other states to protect private lands and Indigenous heritage.
Why it matters
The protection prevents mining from destroying sacred Indigenous sites and preserves unique wildlife habitats.
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