WARNKA-MAGENY ANIMALS

Gamarang

Long-necked turtle

  • Gamarang is good to eat when it is nice and fat
  • Best found in June/July
  • ‘Gamarang’ is also used by some as a generic word for turtle

Derrmad / Gawarroong

Fresh Water Crocodile

  • The Freshwater crocodile is found in warm freshwater systems
  • In the Cold Season, the freshwater croc lays its eggs in the sand
  • The Warnka–mageny is the season when the Miriwoong people dig up the eggs for food

Jajan

Catfish

  • The Catfish is found in most freshwater and saltwater river systems in the East Kimberley region
  • The Catfish spawns in the cold season 
  • Frogs and prawns make great bait for catching catfish

Jamood

Bush Turkey

  • While the bush turkey can fly, it prefers to walk all over the country foraging for leaves, buds, seeds, fruit, frogs, lizards along the ground
  • These birds are usually found in pairs or alone
  • They are most commonly spotted in June/July

Jilginy

Freshwater Crayfish (Cherabin)

  • Freshwater crayfish are found in most fresh water creeks and springs in Miriwoong country
  • Freshwater crayfish produce their eggs at the start of the cold season

Manngag / Gayirring

Ground Sugabag

  • Ground sugarbag is a species of native bee that makes its hive in rocky places, or sometimes at the base of a tree
  • Ground sugarbag can also be found in ant beds (termite mounds) and is very popular with the Miriwoong people
  • The Ngareng (bush honey) is nice and sweet to eat

Moonggoong

Short-necked Turtle

  • The Short-necked turtle is found in the freshwater systems of the East Kimberley and lays its eggs in the cold weather season
  • The Miriwoong people enjoy eating freshwater turtles when they’ve grown nice and fat, as well as the turtle’s eggs

Warnembang

Sugar leaf

  • Small sap-sucking insects (psyllids) create a white build-up on leaves called ‘sugar leaf’
  • Sugar leaf is a sweet treat that is also high in proteins and fats
  • They appear toward the end of the cold season and the beginning of the hot season

Wirringgoon

Cockatiel

  • Cockatiels are found all over the country
  • These birds breed in the cold season
  • The Cockatiel is not hunted as a food source by the Miriwoong people
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