The Piccaninny Plains station lies in the heart of the Cape York Peninsula, a region of global significance for conservation. It provides a vital corridor that connects the east and west coasts of the peninsula and contains several diverse ecosystems such as gallery rainforest, tropical grasslands, wetlands and floodplains as well as the Archer and Wenlock Rivers, which flow through it. This tropical monsoonal area has a unique blend of ecological treasures and features endemic species such as the Palm Cockatoo, Trumpet Manucode, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Magnificent Riflebird, Spotted Cuscus and the White-streaked Honeyeater. Much of Cape York and its wildlife are under severe threat from feral animals, weeds and altered fire regimes. Many species are declining and ecosystems across the Peninsula are deteriorating.
The Wild Australia program contributed to the purchase of the 182,000 hectare Piccaninny Plains property by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC). Wild Australia staff are working with AWC and the neighboring Kaanju people to provide a secure future for the wildlife of Cape York.
We plan to work in conjunction with other Environmental NGOs to ensure cross tenure management activities developed and carried out in conjunction with managers of the adjacent Kaanju Indigenous Protected Area, and adjacent pastoral properties Merluna and Wolverton.