“I would argue that the extinction and decline of Australia’s native mammals is our nation’s greatest biodiversity conservation shame and biggest challenge,” Ziembicki stated. “At a time when we are losing so much of both our biological and cultural heritage the challenge for us all is to find ways to use science and Indigenous knowledge together to more effectively address these dual, and
inter-related, problems. I think in this case we’ve been successful in demonstrating the value of Indigenous knowledge and the study argues for its greater recognition. I hope such studies can also play a part in highlighting to young indigenous people the value of their rich and unique heritage, and inspire them to learn further from their elders.”