The maverick outback grazier using donkeys to regenerate his land | Australian Story

In one of the toughest parts of Australia, a barefoot grazier is running a bold regenerative experiment that might land him in jail.
For the past three decades Chris Henggeler has dedicated his life to transforming an eroding, desolate, fire-prone property in the Kimberley into an oasis of green paddocks and fresh running water.
A secret of his success - feral donkeys.
Despite the support of ecologists and a local Indigenous resident, the pastoralist has found on the wrong side of the law.
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[@BundyToo]

What a great story of a great man. I sincerely hope the bureaucrats can get their head around what a great job and service Chris and his family are doing for the country.

[@aosaeanor]

Donkey's have lower fertility & reproductive rate + a year long gestation period. Infact in many regions of the world they are teetering on extinction. For these animals to be invasive seems odd. Donkeys have done plenty good for the land. Unless the Govt wants the land going back to being a dry arid arid region prone to wildfires , there is really no reason to cull them . Besides, there doesn't seem to be any farms nearby that these donkeys are causing harm to

[@paulawagstaff686]

Yes, a great story indeed. Today is the 6th November. All the best for your hearing from NZ

[@hehnothinpersonalkid5323]

Ridiculous I hate our left wing bureaucrats who want to play god. Our land evolves and they want to

[@hehnothinpersonalkid5323]

Hold it like an Amish in 1880s policy

[@salivadriven]

Bravo. As a passionate believer in regenerative farming practice I know how crazy I sound to conventional farmers. Even most environmentalists believe in destroying any flora or fauna not native to the region. The worst I’ve seen is the ripping out and destruction of Willow trees on creek embankments. I’m not highly educated in these topics but have read and seen enough to know this man is on the right track. Fighting the good fight. ‘The role of science is not to defend your hypothesis but to challenge it.” Very true yet very often forgotten.

[@RussellCrafter-r1g]

I was taught that we are keepers of the country. We save it in good condition for the next generation. You can not learn out of books, you must be on the actual ground to understand it. My very late grandfather told me love the country and it will love, if you do not it will break your heart. He was a very wise man . Keep up the good work Chris, job well done mate. Cheers.

[@richardwilliams1334]

Go Chris go go man this world is so short of people like you. This is your 2nd day in court and by know I hope you and your families have managed to turn the tides of this bureaucratic nonsense we in this other world have been forced to live by. Kia ora from NZ.

[@peterpusey3206]

Love the work you’re doing, 50 years ago I worked as a prospecting hand out in the Kimberly’s and had a year in a campsite based at a bore hole. Now I live a gentle life on the Isle of Wight. It is so important that we rebuild the soil and its resilience to withstand the likes of a fire. I love the fact that Chris saw the light and understood what is needed before many of us even woke up to what we had destroyed.

[@BradGryphonn]

I'm nearly 61. I'd organise myself to head over there and become a station hand to support these people if they asked.

[@yawaragirl]

Me also

[@mariuskoekemoer4646]

Awesome on you Not everything is bad if manage correctly

[@letstalk3265]

Another great Australian story. Champions.

[@jasonbussenschutt8262]

What a great man and an amazing couple living such a tough life but still have a teenage love for each other.

[@paulrummery6905]

That's a grand family of remarkably strong character. The story is very moving, very hard stuff, very inspiring stuff. Love & salutations.

[@Welldone827]

Best wishes, wonderful people !!!!

[@MrBigfella1234]

This guy is a hero what a set of balls on this bloke

[@lesleyb6317]

What a good man, love his work ❤❤❤

[@treefarm3288]

I've had donkeys here in a rainforest environment in NQueensland. They're intelligent, adaptable, hardy and easy to get along with. Also I believe the culling programs aren't really successful due to the donkey population recovering within a couple of years, according to a lecture I attended by those doing it.

[@markienorvelli5004]

Great to see another Rhodie doing the right thing, Alan Savory was a family friend back home and we use some of his ideas here in FNQ. Hang in there guys you're on the right track and doing a great job. Sala gutjle lina.

[@SeethaGopalakrishna]

I am moved .in faraway south India where rapid realestate is gobbling up every piece of earth, I am holding on to small little forest so I can leave behind a small patch of greenery untouched. very hard considering I am 62 and a woman amidst different patriarchal landed gentry groups. This story gives me a hope. BTW here in Tamilnadu South India currently few people are rearing donkeys for milk and to produce value added commodities/

[@tinyliny4ever]

God bless you for your long sightedness

[@SeethaGopalakrishna]

@ thank you .

[@JoelReid]

When Aboriginals first arrived, they had to adapt to managing the land. For 60,000 years they determined how to do that. When the new wave of humans arrived 200 years ago things changed, and now humanity has to adapt again. In another 60 thousand years our ancestors likely will look back and see how we adapt and applaud us... or condemn us. When managing the land, seek to be applauded in 60,000 years.

[@hehnothinpersonalkid5323]

Great perspective, my family was first fleet, on the Sirius. I am connected to this country and I am white (and who knows wat). There are areas I feel very at home and there are areas in the bush I don’t like. This country is open to any that actually listens.

[@elfling1362]

How terrific to actually do something amazing and helpful for the planet and animals.more farmers need to be leaving the land better than they first owned it.this couple can sit back when old and know they didn’t something great.we all need a purpose like this

[@markienorvelli5004]

Just on another tack, in Queensland if animals are controlled and farmed they are not classified as feral, weather they be deer, horses, donkeys or indeed cattle. I don't know the WA legislation, they tend to come up with some skewed stuff over there.

[@vickydimitriou6156]

What a fabulous Australian story and family trying to do right to country surely bureaucracy sees the science of regenerative farming.

[@Mcaddict41]

Beautiful

[@Wendy-i1i]

Government departments need to Listen to the Ecologists witnessing to the beneficial activities on this farm Done with sustainable farm practices this Northern Territory property has become a Beacon of light with on farm management and improved land fertility ,it’s created an oasis in harsh lands. Thousands of years old Rainforests were Destroyed by fire in 2019 in NSW.Not allowing Innovative farmers to carry on with proven outcomes is inconceivable. Government Concervation departments need to employ local people on from the districts who have real ground experience.I hope this Visionary and Pioneer farm family ,is able to hand on the farm to their children.

[@hehnothinpersonalkid5323]

Bruce Pascoe and his fake capitalist aboriginality stuffed this whole thing. No one looks at the aboriginal Australian land management approach and goes yes let’s Lose all our topsoil and burn off all our crops. Fire is but one method of controlling this country.

[@hehnothinpersonalkid5323]

This country had mega fauna that was probably wiped out because of circa 60kbc aboriginal land practice. This is documented. We had megafauna. We had grassland and insland sea and we had lots and lots of forest.

[@hehnothinpersonalkid5323]

We literally have 200+million year old forest (woolamai pines) but a lil bit of fire and some crazy inland floodn😅

[@onthefencefilm]

Really interesting perspective. Thank you for spotlighting Chris!

[@richo083]

What a great family. I believe in what they stand for👍 best australian story in my opinion.

[@thearmchairjournalist566]

That woman is a true blue Aussie and I am proud she has made our country her home 🫶🏼

[@eugenio1542]

This and Savory methods are controversial but government should support them as they work in this situation. Jack Out The Back is also battling government restrictions / bureaucracy 😢

[@mechanics4all405]

ANY CHANCE YOU COULD DO FEATURE ON THE nAMIBIAN PERMACULTURE GUY,WHO IS FEEDING TOWNSHIPS AND PEOPLE WITH HIS FLEDJLING OPERATION,GIVING DIGNITY AND RESPECT BACK TO INDIGINOUS POPULATION

[@johnmathisen1167]

Let’s hope that the aboriginal land councils will get behind what they are doing

[@BradGryphonn]

We often ridicule maverick land regeneration projects. Permaculture was considered hippy madness decades ago. As was restricting cattle access to natural waterways.

[@markienorvelli5004]

@@BradGryphonn I have fenced my cattle out of the natural waterways and rain forrest, they drink from troughs.

[@BradGryphonn]

@markienorvelli5004 A brilliant way to help the creeks and the rainforest recover.

[@JacquelineHahn1]

God bless them for their care of country

[@graemeeyre8933]

So good to see people thinking outside the box. In the way that they have regenerated the land

[@Sibl3o]

Government needs understanding, facts and flexibility. Yes there are donkey problems but just flying over a property is not science.

[@davo-ju6er]

great to see 👍 hope him & Peter Andrews are supported in their cause .

[@learnfromit-ld3lw]

Australia people takes very good care of nature

[@MrWhitmen1981]

Yeah the extinction rate of natural species says otherwise 😂

[@royhay5966]

Komodo dragons need to be reintroduced to Australia. Australia's new megafauna needs more major predators because hunter-gatherers and saltwater crocodiles aren't enough. Komodo dragons lived in Australia during the Ice Age. I think Cuban crocodiles should be introduced to Queensland and Melanesia as proxies for extinct land crocodiles. Sunda tigers are the closest living comparison to marsupial lions and could help Komodo dragons and Cuban crocodiles manage the new megafauna. Tigers can also live where Komodo dragons and Cuban crocodiles can't, like in the Australian Alps where alpine brumbies live. Long-beaked echidnas may still inhabit the Kimberley, so restoring their habitat and reducing wildfires would help them.

[@gideonporter537]

I remember Allan Savory having a great deal of difficulty too - mostly because of b/s scientists who spooked Aussie politicians. Keep going and good luck Chris and family.

[@edgeGabe]

People coming out of the university with a masters degree or Phd, you take them into the field and they literally don't believe anything unless it's a peer reviewed paper. It's the only thing they accept. My favorite Allan Savory quote.

[@sizercam]

Chris is another Peter Andrews that had read the land to bring it back

[@anaschilling2668]

Amaizing guy!!! Wonder how he went in court 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@craigrobinsonsaddler]

A great story.

[@marioalvarez188]

Chris Henggeler has a strong character that reminds me John Dutton in Yellowstone, always fighting for his land.

[@craigdawson1749]

Bureaucratic overreach, madness!

[@prizecowproductions]

Tim White and his beaurucrat opinions need to step outside of their offices occasionally and see physically what can go on in a living landscape. Lets not forget it was departments like his in Queensland that insisted on something to control bugs in sugar cane country. Aussie Jeff Moore

[@petesmitt]

Great immigrant story; this guy is as ridgy didge as they get..

[@IseiNabuka]

Wow this is interesting and educational, of course eye opening as well. Thand you Chris for what you do and believe in ❤

[@workerant7874]

What a great story, well reported. I can only hope that thinking will shift around their use of donkeys, as for instance thinking around willows in Australia has evolved.

[@carolmccorry3053]

Conservancy my arse, these people have no idea, leave it to the people who live on the land.

[@pcb462]

Good job! I hope it works out!

[@malbirrell]

Amazing man

[@hakanurludag5477]

Is there any update from the court hearing at all ? It was on the 04th of Nov 2024.

[@brujonpatrick4779]

Great story. The beauacrats need some education.

[@aosaeanor]

Exactly. Applying one thumb rule across the country & not taking into consideration the complexities of each region is absolute stupidity . Anyways this guy has proof that the donkeys have done good for the land & authorities can see the results. But to still go ahead & kill what's doing good is similar to harakiri/ inflicting self harm

[@MaitooHauirae]

A beautiful story! there needs to be more science and research before a destructive action

[@redgatecrt]

Why aren’t these types of people ministers in our parliament

[@johnmerton3630]

would this case apply to domestic cats .

[@HooHaaMusic]

Let’s hope common sense prevails Much respect

[@leoncellier4719]

Donkeys with ear tags are no longer feral the same as cattle with ear tags, donkey fat per kilo sell at an enormous amount of money.

[@davejensen7922]

The law is an ass no pun intended

[@AX2SEG]

Get an accredited bush management advisor to audit the property and it's improvements to the ecology and environment since being settled. At least that way the govt is going up against documented facts. Have said report sent to the Federal minister by certified mail.

[@ryanroux5429]

Would love to know the outcome

[@dmk_games]

I'm 11 minutes in, and all I have seen is a puff peace engineered to get us to like these people and take their side of the argument. Must be nice to be able to buy a huge piece of land and a plane and just do what you want.

[@dmk_games]

Got to the end. Didn't see any science, just opinions. No comparison sites shown, no evidence shown to backup opinions on the fire suppressing power of donkeys. Donkey zone vs donkey free zone - compare soil moisture content, compare free water quality (tests not sips), compare native and invasive plant biodiversity and quantity, compare native and (non-donkey) invasive fauna quantity, compare soil carbon content, macro/micro nutrient analysis in the soils, microbial/macrobilogy of the soil. Burn patterns and spread rates in the fire season. And impact of donkey carcasses. If you want to convince people these guys are doing the right thing - use science and data, not a slow paced puff piece. This is not the families fault - this is the fault of "journalists" who feel it is their job to manipulate rather than inform.

[@deanwishart9981]

Looked at the thumbnail on KZbin and immediately thought this was a Russell Coight video from Working Dog!

[@Mr_Bute]

hee-haw hee-haw

[@Mazigaro]

Kachana is a Shona word it means very far. I’m from Zimbabwe trust me 😅

[@davo-ju6er]

What ??? the ABC letting us comment on "our ABC.". wow .. bout time

[@GSSurry]

I have hearing impairment and this background music makes it impossible to hear the dialogue. I spent a lot of time in the Kimberley.

[@hakanurludag5477]

Have you tried putting the subtitles on mate, that will help with the dialogues. Sometimes I use too.

[@Wendy-i1i]

Ps.It’s in Western Australia the Farm story 😊

[@petefitz9092]

i am not pretending to know more than these station owners, but i wonder if there is a similarly impactful native species that would manage the land as needed.

[@dennalang]

Hold out mate...your doing well..I have a story that has similarities.

[@tinyliny4ever]

What large herbivores were there prior? Prior to European invasion? None except Kangaroos, that I know of. So how is this mimicking the original way that the land was kept healthy? Or was it fire managed by the aboriginal population?

[@awolffromamongus875]

The exposition is so boring. Just tell me why donkeys....

[@Kestrel-FG]

19:46 - Tim White is correct, donkeys are an environmental menace.

[@adamrandall5967]

I Unreservedly Welcome 🙏🏼 Such Learned Folk onto Country, this Innately Informative Story is Most Certainly yet another one Africa’s Longterm Losses 🙏🏼🦘 Gya WündÜ 💫