Ngalurrtju

The Sanctuary

Ngalurrtju is located on the traditional lands of the Anmatyerr, Warlpiri and Luritja Peoples and has immense cultural significance. 位于澳大利亚中部三个生物地理区域的交界处, the property covers an area of 323,128 hectares and contains a rich assortment of land types. Each supports its own suite of arid-adapted plants and animals, making the property a hotspot for desert biodiversity. Ngalurrtju is located some 250 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs, within the Great Sandy Desert bioregion. It’s a spectacular property, with shimmering salt lakes, ochre clay pans, 充满活力的红色平行沙丘和起伏的钙质平原被古老的紫红色石英岩山脉穿过，具有戏剧性的悬崖和深峡谷. Ngalurrtju’s highest peak, Karrinyarra (Central Mount Wedge), dominates the skyline and is visible from all corners of the property.

Ngalurrtju was once a pastoral lease, but fortunately for extant wildlife and habitats, 牛群放牧被限制在地下水可以开采的地区，大部分财产都没有受到破坏. Ngalurrtju is adjoined to the west by AWC’s Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary and the combined area of almost 600,000公顷是该国最大的非政府保护区之一.

In 1999, Ngalurrtju’s pastoral lease was extinguished, and the property was handed back to its Traditional Owners. Now, AWC已被邀请加入合作伙伴关系来管理该物业, 为Ngalurrtju的传统主人和其他土著护林员提供就业机会，让他们在自己的国家工作. 伙伴关系的目标是共同努力保护这片特殊的土地, sharing the values of Caring for Country, conservation of native flora and fauna, protection of sacred sites and mutual learning.

Wildlife at Ngalurrtju

AWC is currently building an inventory of Ngalurrtju’s native wildlife. The property is likely to support a rich assemblage of plants and animals, similar to those found at neighbouring Newhaven, that are adapted to the semi-arid conditions of Central Australia. Sadly, due to predation by feral cats and foxes, the impacts of feral herbivores and changed fire regimes, 很可能是许多中小型哺乳动物的数量减少了.

黑足岩袋鼠——现在在Uluṟu和Kata Tjuṯa消失了，在其他地方也越来越少——在Ngalurrtju山脉国家崎岖的巨石和峡谷中生存. 也有哺乳动物物种的历史记录，如大兔耳袋狸, Golden Bandicoot and Brushtail Possum.

Ngalurrtju预计会有超过80种爬行动物(包括国家脆弱的大沙漠蜥蜴)，以及令人惊叹的干旱地区鸟类多样性. 花斑牛头鸟和灰伯劳鸫的笛声在恩格鲁尔特朱崎岖的石英岩山脉的峡谷中回响, 而在山脉的边缘和尖刺的深处，可以听到暗草鹪鹩或尖刺鸟的颤音. 鹦鹉公主可能会在他们的游牧沙漠飞行中为广阔的沙漠橡树林地增添光彩.

预计在Ngalurrtju上还会出现其他干旱地区特有的物种，包括带状白面鸟, Rufus-crowned Emu-wren, Slaty-backed Thornbill, Hooded Robin and the Orange Chat. 许多小型哺乳动物的数量，特别是本地啮齿类动物，将在潮湿的年份“激增”. During these wetter seasons, 短暂的湖泊形成了一个网络，成为候鸟和许多动物的繁殖地，比如穴居青蛙，否则它们就会在沙子下冬眠，等待下雨.

AWC Field Programs at Ngalurrtju

Ngalurrtju伙伴关系将通过尊重地分享土著文化和生态知识，为相互学习提供令人兴奋的机会, conservation land management practices and scientific research methods. AWC希望与土著社区和CLC的Warlpiri和A建立长期和富有成效的关系n来自尼尔皮、元敦旺和帕潘亚的护林员angu Luritjiku和其他CLC工作人员.

Ngalurrtju Traditional Owners and Indigenous Rangers, CLC的护林员和AWC的工作人员将共同建立现存动植物物种的清单, 绘制受威胁和文化上重要的物种和生态系统地图，并确定威胁过程. 这一过程将有助于制定有针对性的管理和监测方案.
Ultimately, Ngalurrtju伙伴关系的目标是共同努力，促进Ngalurrtju及其独特的生态和文化价值的保护.