Celebrations as climbing ban begins for Uluru
Print Edition
Indigenous Australians performed songs and traditional dance as the sun set over Uluru yesterday, capping a weekend of celebrations to mark the historic ban on climbing the sacred site.
The ceremony was held two days after a final surge of tourists who had flocked to central Australia and scaled the giant red monolith before its closure to climbers.
A crowd gathered late Friday at the base of the site to watch rangers erect the 鈥減ermanently closed鈥 sign, in line with the long-held wishes of indigenous Australians.
鈥淣o more climbing today,鈥 shouted indigenous elder Nelly Patterson. 鈥淐lose it,鈥 she yelled to a loud cheer from the crowd.
The ban, first announced in 2017, had long been sought by the traditional owners of the land, the Anangu, whose connection to the site dates back tens of thousands of years.
As well as respecting cultural practices, the ban is designed to protect the site from further environmental damage and ensure visitors鈥 safety.
鈥淲e are all very happy, as traditional owners, that the climb is closed now, after a long fight from handback to today,鈥 Reggie Uluru told reporters through an interpreter on Saturday.
Previously known as Ayers Rock, the site was officially returned to the Anangu in 1985.
Signs at its base had implored visitors not to climb it but they were regularly ignored by some, especially in recent months as thousands made last-minute ascents.
鈥淚 think it is important that mother nature has a bit of a break,鈥 James Martin, the last climber at Uluru, said.
鈥淚 would like to say to the aboriginals that we are sorry and the world does indeed belong to every single person who was born on the planet,鈥 the Australian said as he came off the rock at sunset on Friday.
Parks Australia added extra rangers over the weekend, with fines for those who attempt to climb now reaching up to AU$10,000 (US$6,800).
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