It was only a week ago we got back from Groote Eylandt. What a special place. Wild, and raw, and special. An island of contrasts, between a traditional culture and a modern mining industry. An island with a lot of crocodiles.
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| the GEMCO manganese mine |
It was my first trip up, and Nelle came along. We met the Rangers and friends and family and Gavin and Kerry and the rest of the team and Alex-from-Stanford. We drank tea on the deck at the Ranger station, and packed up everything {but petrol} for a quoll-catching venture to the east side of the island. {Former labmate} Billy was appointed Ranger Coordinator. We learned our first Anindilyakwan words. We entertained Nelle, and learned the value of ABC for Kids downloads {and PhD students}.
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| On the deck with Jennifer and her niece; with Chopper; with MacBook Pro |
We drove east to Umbakumba then headed into the bush on sandy tracks. We set up tents on top of a berm, feeling {relatively} safe from water-borne crocs and collected firewood from the beach. We watched a heavy moon pull itself up into the sky.
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| Picnic Beach, Groote Eylandt |
Under Jaime's guidance, we set out traps for quolls, hoping to catch at least a few to obtain measurements and hair samples.
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| Jaime and Eddie set out, bait, and mark quoll traps |
We caught 4. Plus a few bandicoots. It was good enough for Jaime to get her samples, and good enough for me - these were the first wild quolls I'd seen.
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| A quoll curled up in its very own, custom-made pillowcase |
We were almost as successful catching fish ... the ocean here teems with them {apparently} but we didn't have much luck. Three fish only made it into our bellies.
That's ok. We had plenty of patience ...
and potatoes.
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| fishing for dinner |
- written by Amanda Niehaus
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