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

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

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