MOYITJ

HYDROMYS CHRYSOGASTER

THIS COMMUNITY PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF:

Dale Tilbrook from Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery

Merinda from Langford Aboriginal Association

Val from the Wooroloo Town Site Project

Students and teachers from Wooroloo Primary School

Liz from the Chidlow Marsupial Hospital

Acacia Prison and Wooroloo Prison Farm

George at TJ Signs, Mundaring Trade Centre

Merril from World Wildlife Fund Australia

Mundaring Arts Centre

Museum of WA

All the groups and individuals who are interested in protecting the Moyitj

Text is written in the Wadjak/ Noongar Language which is a language

of the south-west region of Western Australia,

with English translation

© Dale Tilbrook, 2016

Environmental Services at the Shire of Mundaring

Kaya koolangka. Nganyany kwerl Moyitj.

Hi children.My name is Moyitj.

1

Have you seen me? This is my country.

Noonook ngany djinang? Nidja nganyang boodja.

2

I am a good swimmer.Have you seen my white tail tip?

I live in a burrow by the water.

Ngany moorditj djiba-djobal. Noonook nirnt djardak djinang?Ngany djit-ak kep-ak nyin.

3

I eat marron, gilgie, fish, small birds, shellfish, small eggs, lizards, insects

and, in winter, I also eat grass.

Ngany maron, djilki, djildjit, nyit djerap, yokil, nyit noorook, djidong, minga ngaar.Mookaroo-k ngany djeraly ngaarn.

4

I am a beautiful water animal.I breathe air just like you.

I drown in closed traps.Be careful! If you go fishing, don’t use a

closed trap in case I am around.Use a drop net or scoop net instead.

Ngany kwobidak kep barna. Ngany noonook-mokiny mar wok.Ngany moongaa-k didin moordakakan. Balayi! Moongaa didin yoowart banitja. Yaka madji-koota banitja.

OPERA HOUSE OR CLOSED NET

YOOWART / NO

5

SCOOP NET

KAYA / YES

DROP NET

IMAGE CREDITS:

COVER: Lithograph by Gould, 1863 from THE BEST OF GOULD’S MAMMALS, SELECTIONS FROM MAMMALS OF AUSTRALIA VOL I, II, III by John Gould, modern notes by Joan M Dixon, MacMillan Australia, revised edition 1984, pp 118-119INSIDE PAGES: Page 1 Moyitj in natural habitat, image courtesy of Dale TilbrookPage 2 Habitat area’s of the Moyitj. Main image, Bugle Tree Gully © Una Bell from THE VALUE OF FRINGING VEGETATION by Una Bell, 2012 p 21 Smaller images of waterways near Wooroloo courtesy of Wooroloo Primary SchoolPage 3 Moyitj swimming, Moyitj eating © David Judge for WWF 2015 Report, RAKALI COMMUNITY SURVEY 2014-2015 Page 4 Moyitj feasting on marron, Feeding midden of the Moyitj, images courtesy of Val and Mundaring Arts CentrePage 5 Various nets from agriculture.vic.gov.au and www.fish.wa.gov.au websitesTHIS PAGE: Moyitj swimming © David Judge for WWF 2015 Report, RAKALI COMMUNITY SURVEY 2014-2015

The Moyitj is known by other names such as Ngurju (another Noongar name), Rakali, Australian Water Rat, or Golden Bellied Beaver Rat.

Its scientific name is Hydromys chrysogaster. Further information can be found at wwf.org.au/rakali

You can provide valuable assistance by reporting traps and Moyitj sightings.To report illegal (closed) traps, contact FISHWATCH on 1800 815 507.

If you see a Moyitj, please email the location and date of your sighting to Parks and Wildlife, fauna@dpaw.wa.gov.au