The Great Desert Skink, also known as Tjakura, is a species that occurs almost exclusively on Aboriginal land and has strong connections to culture. They live in the sandy plains between Uluru and Kata Tjuta amongst the spinifex, desert oaks and honey grevilleas.

Tjakura holds Tjukurpa kunpu (strong culture, songs, sites, and stories) for Anangu Traditional Owners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and across the Central Desert. Tjakura is now threatened due to the impacts of wildfire and feral cat predation, however, they continue to survive in areas where rangers conduct traditional burning and feral cat management.

Tjakura is one of 110 species prioritised for recovery under the Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan. Every March an annual tjakura survey is held, called Mulyamiji March, where ranger groups across Central Australia do a survey to gather data on the Great Desert Skink. This is an important part of the Action Plan for this unique lizard, and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and both the Mutitjulu Mala and Central Land Council Tjakura ranger groups play a key role in this initiative.