WYLD Projects: Reconnecting Culture and Conservation
WYLD Projects (Where Youth Live Dreams) are a community based Indigenous Corporation that specialises in developing legacy-based learning projects that provide improved opportunities for Aboriginal Torres Striate Islander youths aged 14-24, in the Burnett Mary Region and throughout Queensland. Through their contextualised Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management, WYLD is helping protect Milbi, the critically endangered White-throated snapping turtle, while passing on knowledge that links ecological science with culture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wbs3YV4_uk
Milbi is more than a critically endangered species. Her life cycle is intimately tied to the health of rivers, seasonal cues, and the cultural knowledge of local Aboriginal people. Protecting her supports both biodiversity and living connections to Country, showing how conservation and culture are inseparable.
WYLD’s work is guided by strong, respectful partnerships with the Taribelang Bunda Elders and Taribelang Aboriginal Corporation, the Butchulla Men’s Business Aboriginal Association, Government and Natural Resource Management groups. Throughout colonisation many attempts have been made to destroy songlines, but through WYLD Projects relationship with Milbi, where reviving those connections, ensuring our youth led conservation projects are grounded in both culture connections and science.
Over the past eight years, WYLD has built a deep understanding of Milbi by observing her during nesting seasons and tracking her connections to the reproductive cycles of key plants such as Black Bean, White Cedar, and Lomandra. A particularly important discovery came when a female Milbi was found deceased at Paradise Dam. An autopsy revealed Black Bean seeds in her gut, confirming that Milbi only feeds after laying her eggs — this connection between WYLD’s observations cultural knowledge and ecological insight began to uncover cultural and historical events that, previous to colonisation had been passed down through generations.
The work has also revealed ancient songlines running along the Burnett River, Mary River, Baffle Creek and across States. These songlines link Black Bean, Fig, and Bunya trees, marking historic nesting banks and seasonal gathering sites on the lands of the traditional peoples. They show how Milbi’s life is woven into a much broader cultural and ecological landscape and how protecting her is part of keeping these songlines alive.
WYLD’s approach demonstrates how being a part of country is key, and ecological science complement each other. Young people gain hands-on experience and a deep understanding of species, seasons, and landscapes, while Milbi benefits from culturally informed conservation. The project protects a critically endangered species while also restoring connections between Elders, Uncles. youth, community, and Country — a model for conservation that works on multiple levels.
Milbi’s story and WYLD Projects work are just the beginning. For those interested in learning more about the turtle, the conservation program, or how Indigenous youth are stepping up as the next generation of land and water stewards, get in touch with WYLD Projects.
Email: brad@wyldprojects.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wyldprojects
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wbs3YV4_uk
To make a tax deductible donation to WYLD Projects (ACNC registered charity) contact Brad Crosby via email.