Yugaamgan – a story of Emu on Yaegl Country

If you’re a wildlife enthusiast or citizen scientist, our endangered coastal emus need your help.

With less than 50 known individuals on the east coast of Australia, simply spotting one on your way into or out of Yamba, can help preserve their habitat.

The coastal emu range extends from Corindi to Evans Head along the northern New South Wales coast and inland to Bungawalbin wetlands and surrounds, but the the main coastal emu strongholds remain near Yuraygir and Bungawalbin national parks.

To give you a better understanding, this film was created and produced on Yaegl Country, with Yaegl Traditional Owners in Partnership with NSW Government’s Saving our Species Program.

Take care on the road

Coastal emus are exposed to a number of known threats in developed areas, including vehicle strikes, fencing, loss of habitat, feral animals, weeds and fire.

Emus move large distances to forage, often crossing roads in their travels where they become at risk of vehicle strike. Please take notice of emu signs and slow down when travelling through Yamba and surrounding areas, being extra cautious in these areas. It’s only with the help of motorists that we can hope to reduce unnecessary deaths of this iconic population.

If you’re lucky enough to see a coastal emu, or sight activity, during your travels, head to Coastal Emu Register to add a pin to the map. Evidence of emu activity includes actual sightings, hearing drumming, tracks, scats, feathers, or eggs.

Saving our Species program

With the state at risk of losing a thousand of our native animals and plants, the NSW Government established Saving our Species, NSW's flagship threatened species conservation program.

Saving our Species (SoS) is one of the biggest conservation commitments ever undertaken in New South Wales. It is a movement involving volunteers, scientists, businesses, community groups and the NSW Government, all coming together to secure the future of Australia’s unique plants and animals.

The main objectives of SoS are simple: increase the number of threatened species that are secure in the wild in New South Wales for 100 years and control the key threats facing our threatened plants and animals.

Visit here for more information.

Image by S. Otton via Clarence Conversations