Fauna

The Jawoyn term for animals in general is 'wang'. In total we have recorded the Jawoyn names and uses of 302 animals and they are grouped broadly in the table below:

BIRDS
Feathers from several birds are used for ceremonial decoration, including the white, soft down from emus and bush turkeys (Australian bustard), tail and wing feathers from various eagles and kites and some cockatoos. In recent times feathers have been used less, though bush turkey down is still utilised. Species include pigeons, doves, hunting birds, cockatoos, finches, large birds and water birds.
FISH
The general Jawoyn term for fish is kiyowk. All fresh water fish can be eaten; even small fish can be lightly cooked and eaten. Some salt-water species such as stingrays and small sharks occasionally are seen in Jawoyn country, but they are considered to be visitors and have no Jawoyn names. In the past larger fish where hunted with light spears and fish in small billabongs were ‘poisoned’ with various plants; hand lines are commonly used now. Hollow logs were also used as fish traps. In recent times fishing lines and sometimes nets have been used for fishing.
FROGS
The general Jawoyn term for frogs is Jatti; this name is now also applied to the introduced cane toad (Bufo marinus). The term is also sometimes applied to the common green tree frog (Litoria caerulea). The Jawoyn people often use some species of frogs as bait for fishing with hand lines.
MAMMALS
Larger mammals such as Echidna, Bandicoot and Northern Quoll are traditionally roasted on hot coals and ashes and the fur used for ceremonial decorations. Smaller mouse like mammals, too small for eating by people instead provide food for snakes and hunting birds.
KANGAROOS AND WALLABIES
The general Jawoyn term for large kangaroos is 'kuppu', and the term 'nakorlk' is used for smaller wallabies and kangaroos in general. All kangaroos and wallabies are considered good food, though some are difficult to hunt and are rarely eaten. The meat is often referred to as ‘black mans beef’ by Jawoyn people, and is thought of as a health promoting and tasty food.
BATS
With 8 species of bat, the black flying fox is the most renowned. The flesh is cooked and eaten; it can be roasted in a ground oven or on hot coals and ashes. The meat is sweet and tasty and has a strong fruity smell,and after eating the meat people also have this smell. Capture often involves ‘sneaking up’ to the trees in which they roost during the day, often larruk, paperbarks, then grabbing them by the wings and legs and quickly knocking them out. Some people have stopped eating koynpam in recent times due to fears of catching the lysavirus that these animals may carry.
REPTILES

Crocodiles, goannas, geckos, lizards and skinks are found throughout Jawoyn Country and the larger reptiles are eaten regularly and form a staple part of the diet.Some species of skink are rubbed on the neck of babies of about two years old, so that
they will stop breast-feeding.
SNAKES
The Jawoyn name for any snake is Lungarrk . During pangkarrang, the late wet season, snakes become aggressive (cheeky) and bite dogs. Snakes are also active in jungalk, the build-up, when it is hot and the ground heats up. The King Brown Snake, one of the most poisonous snakes is very aggressive and will often follow people. It has special powers and a strong sense of smell, so that it can track people. This snake is avoided at all times, though in the past old people used to eat the flesh like a python.
TURTLES
Turtles, 'ngart', can be cooked in ground ovens or roasted on the fire. Generally the intestines and other internal organs are removed before cooking. They may be pulled out from the side through a small cut or the underside shell is cracked open. Another method is to make a small slit in the throat and the innards removed. Turtles are generally cooked upside down to contain the juices in the shell, like soup.
INSECTS
With many different insect species, there are quite a few that the Jawoyn people find very useful such as the Green Tree Ant. The large nests that are found in trees can be used as medicine. The nest is crushed up and the juice from the ants eaten to treat influenza and headaches. The nests can also be soaked or boiled in water the liquid drunk to treat coughs, colds and influenza.
OTHER ANIMALS

There are many other native animals to the Jawoyn region including spiders, crustaceans and molluscs etc.

There are also a number of introduced species including cats, pigs, horses, buffalo and cane toad.

Jawoyn Animal use
Animals are primarily used as a food resource by Jawoyn people, 54% of the uses of animals are for food. However, animals are also of enormous spiritual significance, and we have 11.4% of animals having spiritual importance. It should be noted that we have only recorded public cultural knowledge and have not presented here information of a secret or sacred nature.

A large number of animals are also considered to be toxic or dangerous (12.5%). Animals are also used as bait, primarily to catch fish (6.5%), while only a few species are used as leather or fur (6%), for medicine or cosmetics (2.7%), as calendar animals (4.9%), for feathers or down (1.1%) or for sinew or bone (1.1%).