Share and Follow
A woman who went into a restricted area to pose for a social media snap touching ancient rock art has been fined hundreds of dollars.
The woman is one of a number of people fined $431 for touching the rock art sites at Carnarvon National Park, located near Roma in central Queensland, which are of international importance.
‘The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service makes no apology for taking compliance action against people who break the rules because they believe they are influencers,’ Senior Ranger Luke Male said in a statement.
A woman has been fined $431 for touching ancient indigenous rock art in Queensland
Park rangers have fined six people for going into restricted areas to snap selfies
‘Some visitors to Carnarvon National Park think the rules don’t apply to them and they’re entering Restricted Access Areas to pose for photos,’ Mr Male said.
‘In some instances, they are posing in front of Indigenous rock art that is thousands of years old, or they’re actually touching it.’
In the last year six fines have been issued for going into Restricted Access Areas to take selfies or touch the rock face.
In the same period 18 fines have been issued for various other offences including camping in a protected area and fire offences.
‘The ochre stencil art of the region is unique, diverse, highly complex and spectacular, and the rock art is embedded within sandstone that is incredibly fragile.,’ Mr Male said.
Sunscreen, sweat and hand sanitiser can damage the artwork and touching the rock can cause wear.
‘It is a great honour and privilege for us to be able to see these rock art sites, and touching them can damage cultural artefacts that are thousands of years old.’
Mr Male said rangers will issue fines to anyone who enters restricted access areas around the rock art, and routinely check social media for selfies that have been taken unlawfully.
Read Related Also: Creed star Jonathan Majors to face August trial on charges of beating up his ex-girlfriend
‘We also receive information, including photos from members of the public about people who have broken the rules,’ he said.
Indigenous locals said the site is culturally sacred and touching the rock can damage the artwork
‘People have to understand that the Traditional Owners remain connected to this place and the rock art within it, and they regard the entire Carnarvon National Park as cultural site.
‘The artwork on the sandstone walls of Carnarvon Gorge is part of what makes Carnarvon National Park such an iconic and much-loved national park.
‘The boardwalks are designed to give people the best possible view of the sites, and people don’t get a better view by leaving the boardwalk.’
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
