TDC Blog
Animal management in Wadeye
The animal health film was created to compliment AMRRIC (animal management in remote communities) Thamarrurr rangers and Thamarrurr development corporations’ healthy homes co-ordinated response to animal management in the Thamarrurr region.
The AMRRIC organisation take a ‘one health approach’ after identifying the inseparable link between human, animal and environmental health. By improving animal health, we improve the health of community members and their environments. The issues that hinder delivering successful remote community animal management initiatives are: access to regular and focused animal health services, fragmented service providers and community awareness. This is why the symbiotic relationship between AMRRIC, Thamarrurr rangers and the Wadeye community regarding healthy animals is an important one.
Successful animal management in remote communities starts with positive perceptions of domestic animals and educating community members as to why it is important. AMRRIC and Ranger groups from remote communities across the nation have long known that the more a community understands and takes a pro active approach towards animal management the more successful a management plan will be.
“The animals we have living with us in our homes are like our family members. We need to look after them while they are in our homes” Cornelius Mollingin.
With AMRRIC visiting the community around four times a year and no dedicated veterinary service operating on a ground level the Thamarrurr rangers have been sometimes seen as a solution to most animal health problems. Community awareness is vital to ease the pressures put on the Thamarrurr rangers in dealing with situations that could be prevented or less severe with the right measures taken by community members. By doing this it allows AMRRIC and the rangers to focus on building the capacity of the team in important areas such as animal management.
Each year AMRRIC work with the rangers on an animal census. Animals are tracked and logged by the rangers on an iPad application. This data collected incudes information such as physique, skin condition, number of animals and whether an animal has been de-sexed. Once the information is collated it provides a snapshot of where the animal population is at health wise. Once compared to previous census’ it gives the vets and the rangers an understanding of the overall animal health issues periodically over time. This allows both organisations to identify areas of improvement or concern so that they can take out the necessary measures to ensure that the overall health and welfare of animals is kept in check.
“We need to work together with the rangers and the vets, now and into the future so that everything can improve. Stop the sickness” Cornelius Mollingin.