Parks Australia

Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru

Waputi, thryptomene

Habitats

Quick links

Puli - rocky areas
Karu - creek-lines
Puti - acacia scrubland
Pila - spinifex plains
Tali - sand dunes
Nyaru - burnt areas

Anangu know where to find particular foods. They understand the relationships between the land, plants and animals. Anangu recognise habitats in their own way.


Puli (rocky areas)

Only plants that can live in shallow, barren soils are found here. Anangu burn around puli to protect it from wildfires. Many animals come to drink or shelter in puli, but return to other habitats to graze and breed.

Flora and fauna found in puli:

Walks: The Mala walk, Uluru base walk, Kantju Gorge, Valley of the winds, Sunset viewing area, Lungkata and Kuniya walks

Karu (creek-lines)

Walpa Gorge

Rain pools

Open woodland

Spinifex plains

Sand dunes

From top: Walpa Gorge; Ephemeral rain pools from water run-off at Uluru provide ideal breeding sites for Uluru's frog fauna; Puti acacia scrubland; Pila spinifex plains; Tali sand dunes

Anangu usually find good supplies of water here. Although creeks are normally dry, waterholes can remain for months. Anangu dig for water along the creek beds and collect grass seeds, firewood, and timber for carving tools.

Flora found in karu:

Walks: The Mala walk, Uluru base walk, Kantju Gorge, Valley of the winds, Walpa Gorge, Lungkata and Kuniya walks

Puti (acacia scrubland, often stony foothills)

Where the ground is hard and sometimes stony, kapi tjintjira (freshwater claypans) form after good rain and animals come to drink. Puti wanari is flat country and the ground storey can be spinifex or other grasses hiding many animal burrows. When the burrows flood during rain, the animals head for higher ground.

Flora and fauna found in puti:

Walks: The Mala walk, Uluru base walk, Liru, Valley of the winds

Pila (spinifex plains, low areas between dunes)

Pila is the most common habitat in the park. There are many trees and shrubs that provide seeds for animals and Anangu. When kjanpi (spinifex) is old with a ring in the middle Anangu burn it to allow new growth.

Flora and fauna found in pila:

Walks: Talinguru Nyakunytjaku, Sunset viewing area and the Kata Tjuta dune viewing area

Tali (sand dunes)

This habitat is very fragile. Spinifex and green shrubs grow here. In the mornings you can see networks of tracks on the sand. Many animals of the tali protect themselves by burrowing into the sand and emerge after rain. Generally, the small mammals that live in pila are also found in tali.

Flora and fauna found in tali:

Walks: Talinguru Nyakunytjaku and the Kata Tjuta dune viewing area

 


Nyaru (burnt or regenerating areas)

Pila and tali become nyaru after they are burned, with similar animals in both habitats. Animals flock to the nyaru after a fire because many types of food plants, such as seed grasses and succulents regenerate here.

Flora and fauna found in nyarau: