Kakadu - Department of the Environment

Kakadu

A DOCUMENTARY OF PEOPLE AND PLACE

? ATOM 2013

A STUDY GUIDE BY CHERYL JAKAB



ISBN: 978-1-74295-341-0



The Kakadu series is a visually stunning and powerful documentation of the wonders of Australia's largest terrestrial national park, and of the people who work to learn more about it and keep it functioning as a place of high biodiversity value and as a safe tourist destination. The four-episode series Kakadu was filmed over a twelve-month period to show the flow of the seasons in the top end of Australia, and to show efforts to sustainably maintain the natural and cultural heritage for future generations.

CONTENTS

3

Background information Kakadu

3

The series at a glance:

3

Running time and credits

4

Episode summaries

5

Overview of curriculum and education suitability

6

Detailed synopsis

8

Detailed National Curriculum links

11

Before viewing

11

Viewing questions and discussion starters

Activities:

17

1. What do I know about Kakadu? True/false quiz (Worksheet 1)

18

2. Six seasons of Kakadu (Worksheet 2)

19

3. My story of Kakadu (Worksheet 3)

21

4. Scientific research in Kakadu (Worksheet 4)

22

5. Where I stand: Moral dilemmas and values (Worksheet 5)

23

6. Project ideas

24

Resources

25

Worksheets

Suitability: Recommended for Years 7?10

2

SCREEN EDUCATION ? ATOM 2013

Running Time:

4 x 59 min

CREDITS

TOM E LEWIS: Presenter

NICK ROBINSON: Series Director / Producer / Cinematography

SUE CLOTHIER: Executive Producer ? NORTHERN PICTURES

JOCELYN LITTLE: Executive Producer ? BEACH HOUSE PICTURES

LUKE PETERSON: Cinematography

NB. See Worksheet 3 Information sheet for short biography of people featured

in the series.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION KAKADU

THE PARK

? Kakadu National Park is situated in the top part of the Northern Territory in Australia.

? At 19,804 square kilometres, it is Australia's largest terrestrial national park.

? The park is jointly managed by its Aboriginal traditional owners and the Commonwealth Government

? The name Kakadu is the result of the European interpretation of a local Aboriginal floodplain language, called Gagudju

? Kakadu National Park is listed as a World Heritage Area and as a UNESCO site.

? Kakadu is one of the few World Heritage Areas that are listed for both their natural and cultural heritage.

? 683,000 hectares of Kakadu wetlands are listed as Ramsar-protected

wetlands of international importance. ? The South Alligator River is the only large river system in the world to be completely within and protected by a national park. And Kakadu is the only national park in the world to contain an entire river-system catchment area.

THE HABITAT

? Kakadu's habitats include stone plateaus and escarpments, monsoonal rainforests, flood plains and billabongs, tidal flats, coastal beaches and more, but the vast majority of the area (80 per cent) is covered by open savannah woodlands.

? Kakadu is home to over 10,000 different species of insects, over 280 bird species (that's one third of all of Australia's bird species), more than 120 reptile species, sixty-eight species of mammals, over 300 tidal and freshwater fish species, and more

than 2000 different plant species. ? Some animal species in the park are

rare, endangered or endemic (not found anywhere else in the world). ? Kakadu is considered to be one of the most weed-free conservation areas in the world. ? Kakadu's waterways are inhabited by saltwater and freshwater crocodiles.

THE SERIES AT A GLANCE

This series documents the dramatic change of seasons through a year in Kakadu, described through the eyes and voices of traditional owners and park rangers who work to improve and maintain this important site of cultural and natural importance. The Kakadu series is presented as a behind-thescenes journey in one of the most pristine natural environments left on Earth. This program shares sights of the spectacular wilderness, wildlife and

SCREEN EDUCATION ? ATOM 2013

3

cultural values of the area. The voices -- Curriculum links: Natural heritage, -- Curriculum links: Tourism, disas-

of the scientists and traditional owners

national parks, people, native wild-

ters, risk management, science and

who have devoted their lives to main-

life and feral species

assisting professions, natural herit-

taining Kakadu present an in-depth

-- Vimeo segment:

age values

and personal understanding of living

Clip 1: This a Kakadu! Episode 1

-- Vimeo segment: Traditional owners

things, our relationships to the land and

Timestamp 00:26?02:00

and mining: Jeff Lee and the cultural

insights into the elemental power of

Clip 2: Crocodile control Vimeo clip

importance of Koongarra Episode 2

nature at dramatic extremes presented

Episode 1 Timestamp 03:30?06:48

Timestamp 23:17?26:16

by the climate.

Episode 2

Episode 3

EPISODE SUMMARIES

July?August

December?January

Episode 1

July in Kakadu is the Aboriginal season December in Kakadu is the time of the

May?June

of Wurrgeng, which locals call the cold monsoon build-up: the traditional own-

season despite the blazing hot sun.

ers call it Gunumeleng. Humidity can

May in Kakadu is the Aboriginal season Each year around 200,000 tourists flood be near 100 per cent and temperatures

of Yegge. After months of monsoon

into the park at a time when bushfires, between forty and fifty degrees. In this

deluge, the land is shown to slowly dry snakebite, crocodile attacks and road episode, everything is seen to struggle

SCREEN EDUCATION ? ATOM 2013

out. This episode shows the start of

smashes keep traditional owners,

with the conditions: animals, plants and

another year with the danger that can

rangers and emergency services on

humans. The flood plains are shown

threaten the annual influx of tourists. In call 24/7. The episode highlights the

as cracked desert landscapes. While

the Jim Jim district, Kakadu's tradi-

sites and activities tourists engage in,

the sky is black with huge thunder-

tional owners and rangers talk about

along with the life-and-death pressures head clouds and lightning, these storm

their work to make the park safe from

for everyone in the remote area and

cells produce little rain. The scientific

dangerous feral animals, rogue crocs

how risks are managed by the various study of the park is presented through

and poachers.

services.

the work of individual projects ? the

4

conservation of the northern quoll and the search for more rock art before the

savage winds flattening trees, choking kilometres of access roads. Amid the

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability

monsoon arrives.

chaos created for tourists, residents

and park staff, the people of Kakadu are Related content topics: Biodiversity,

-- Curriculum links: Conservation,

shown going about life and work in this Ecosystems, National parks,

sustainability, endangered species, ancient wilderness.

Conservation, Introduced species,

feral animals

Feral animals, Endangered species,

-- Vimeo segment:

-- Curriculum links: Risk manage-

Extinction, Sustainability, Natural herit-

Clip 4: Northern quoll endan-

ment, extreme weather events, feral age, Tourism, Cultural heritage, Ethics

gered species: Training not to eat cane toads Episode 3 Timestamp 33:07?37.00)

life management, wilderness values, cultural heritage values -- Vimeo segment:

Major Learning area foci: Science; Geography

Clip 5: Relationship with land

Episode 4

(Episode 4 Timestamp 54:30?56:15) -- Science: Understandings: Biological

February?April Monsoon torrents replace the heat

OVERVIEW OF CURRICULUM AND EDUCATION SUITABILITY

sciences & Earth science, Science inquiry skills, Science as a human endeavour -- Geography: Place and space

SCREEN EDUCATION ? ATOM 2013

in Kakadu during the season called

Gudjewg. The unpredictability of storms Classroom connections

Additional Learning areas

is shown in this episode, causing

mayhem that must be managed by the Levels: Activities in this guide are

-- History: Continuity and change

park staff to ensure safety of the people designed for junior to middle secondary -- Arts: Media Arts

and the natural values of the park ? ris- (Years 7 through to 10). Material in the

ing floodwaters, feral buffalo stalking

Kakadu series is also suitable for senior Reference: ACARA

unwary tourists, locals getting washed Geography, Earth & Environmental

5

Summary Main Learning areas:

Year 7: Water in the world Year 8: Landforms and landscapes

most magnificent and beguiling ? a paradise and challenging environment

Year 9: Geographies of interconnections seen through the eyes of those who are

Science ? Years 7?10

Year 10: Environmental change and

most passionate about maintaining its

management

values. Numerous stories of life from

Science understanding

the people who work to maintain the

? structures and functions of living

Park are shared over their working year

things

Geography/Curriculum/F-10/

in Kakadu, Australia's largest terrestrial

? life cycles of organisms ? living things and the environment

DETAILED SYNOPSIS

national park.

? earth's resources and their uses

The Kakadu series provides intricate

The four one-hour episodes of Kakadu detail of the monumental scale to one of

Science inquiry skills

are presented as an action-adventure, Australia's greatest natural and cultural

? identify questions and predictions

which provides everything from intimate treasures. Driven by the passion and

for testing

moments of delicate beauty to the

dedication of traditional owners and

? analyse data, describe and explain power of a primeval predator devouring park rangers, the viewer embarks on a

relationships

its terrified prey.

journey behind the scenes. The tourists

? discuss and compare results with

are seen as part of the lifeblood of the

predictions

The series presents Kakadu as a life-

Park, who must be protected by the

SCREEN EDUCATION ? ATOM 2013

? draw conclusions and communicate and-death drama where humans are

people who dedicate their lives to mak-

ideas and understandings

vulnerable creatures when they venture ing sure every visitor is cared for, while

into this remote area of Australia. On

also protecting the natural inhabitants.

Science as a human endeavour

the flood plains and ancient sculptured The Park's natural inhabitants, however,

? consider how science is used in

escarpments, danger and great beauty are the focus of most of the stories;

work and leisure

often go hand in hand. This series

they are described in loving detail, along

presents the World Heritage?listed

with the threats to their future from feral

Geography ? Years 7?10

natural-world wonder of Kakadu at its pest animals such as cane toads and

6

buffalo, invasive weed species such as life, flesh-seeking reptiles, birds and

Many hundreds of hours of filming deep

mimosa and poaching by people.

humans are all seen to contribute to the in the heart of the living wilderness has

place we call Kakadu.

documented the people of this place in

The four-part Kakadu series tells many

intricate detail, creating the feeling of

stories of human devotion to the values Each character in the story plays their an epic drama alongside the stunning

of the Park and how all activities there part in creating the closeness of the

visuals of the treasured ecosystems that

are dominated by the natural cycle of

series Kakadu. The viewer shares in

tourists flock to experience.

the seasons.

the efforts that individuals will make

to enhance and protect this place of

By seeing through the eyes of those

But the care that needs to be taken

great natural and cultural heritage ? be who give their lives to Kakadu ? the

by anyone entering this wilderness is

it catching crocodile, hunting buffalo,

rangers, scientists and traditional own-

always close to mind. Deadly predators removing invasive mimosa weeds or

ers ? a new understanding of the living

lie beneath the billabong surface and

counting turtle eggs.

things found there can develop for the

creep through the rugged stone towers.

viewer, along with a deeper insight into

Kakadu is valued because it is wild

The filming of this four-part epic over a the elemental power of nature at its

and humans can become just another

year's seasonal changes brings to life

dramatic extremes. Kakadu is the story

species fighting to survive when they

the dominance of the seasons in life

of rebirth, renewal and change of the

enter this realm. Kakadu as presented in the top end: The park workers talk

six seasons, which were defined by

in this series can be seen as primal and of the months of dedication working

the Bininj/Mungguy people ? Kakadu's

SCREEN EDUCATION ? ATOM 2013

frightening, while at the same time it is in searing heat and monsoon storms

Aboriginal owners.

magical and entrancing for those who as their activities are caught on film,

live, work and visit there.

including fighting fires, rescuing injured The Kakadu series provides numerous

tourists, catching poachers, being

opportunities for students to learn more

Park rangers, local residents, traditional caught in storms, searching for rock art about how each season brings unique

owners and visitors are seen among the in near 50oC heat and tracking endan- dramas and beauty to the Park, and

living things in the wilderness as players gered northern quolls for months on

new challenges for those who live and

in the same natural drama; microscopic end, to name only a few of the activities work there.

creatures, insects, plants, aquatic

presented in the series.

7

DETAILED NATIONAL CURRICULUM LINKS

relationships through increasingly complex representations.

Science

Year 7

In Year 7, students explore the diversity of life on Earth and continue to develop their understanding of the role of classification in ordering and organising information. They use and develop models such as food chains, food webs and the water cycle to represent and analyse the flow of energy and matter through ecosystems and explore the impact of changing components within these systems.

Understanding: There are differences within and between groups of organisms; classification helps organise this diversity. (ACSSU111)

Interactions between organisms can be described in terms of food chains and food webs; human activity can affect these interactions. (ACSSU112)

Water is an important resource that cycles through the environment. (ACSSU222)

Year 8

They investigate relationships in the Earth?sun?moon system and use models to predict and explain events. Students make accurate measurements and control variables to analyse relationships between system components and explore and explain these

They begin to describe the role of energy in causing change in systems, including the role of heat and kinetic energy in the rock cycle. Students use experimentation to isolate relationships between components in systems and explain these relationships through

increasingly complex representations. They make predictions and propose explanations, drawing on evidence to support their views.

Understanding: Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks contain minerals and are formed by processes that occur within Earth over a variety of timescales. (ACSSU153)

Year 9

Explore the interdependencies between biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems.

Relationships between aspects of the living, physical and chemical world are applied to systems on a local and global scale and this enables students to predict how changes will affect equilibrium within these systems.

Understanding: Ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent

SCREEN EDUCATION ? ATOM 2013

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