A new study led by Charles Darwin University (CDU) has found that combining Indigenous tracking techniques with western scientific methods could improve monitoring of the Bilby - one of Australia's most threatened native animals.

The research, conducted in partnership with the North Tanami Rangers and Traditional Owners from Lajamanu, used both scientific scat surveys and Indigenous tracking to gather genetic data on bilbies.

North Tanami Rangers lead ranger Helen Wilson said Elders guided younger rangers in identifying signs of bilby activity.

"We go out on Country with the Elders, walk around and look for signs of bilby like diggings, scats, tracks and burrows," Ms Wilson said.

She said bilbies play an ecological and cultural role.

"Bilbies keep Country healthy by turning over soil, so it's important to keep them alive and on their Country," she said.

"They are culturally important – they play a role in songs and their tails are used in headdresses."

CDU's Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods researcher Hayley Geyle said collaborating with Indigenous groups helped address challenges in remote surveying and made research more inclusive.

She said conservation involved understanding the relationships between people, species and land.

"Indigenous people have long-standing connections to bilbies and their habitats, and their knowledge systems hold critical insights for conservation," Ms Geyle said.

"By valuing and integrating this knowledge, we can improve species monitoring while also supporting communities and cultural priorities."

Ms Geyle said results from the study showed using both methods together provided a more accurate estimate of bilby populations.

"In other words, combining both ways of knowing leads to more effective conservation strategies and ensures that Indigenous people remain central to decision-making about their lands and species that inhabit them," she said.

While the dual-method approach is best suited to species which leave visible tracks in soft landscapes, Ms Geyle said the model of collaboration could apply to other threatened species.

"Genuine collaboration that values Indigenous knowledge can improve conservation outcomes across many landscapes and for many threatened species," she said.