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

ABC News In-depth

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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.

*On October 29, 2025, Western Australia's State Administrative Tribunal ruled that Mr Henggeler must cull more than 100 feral donkeys. https://tinyurl.com/zvht3j9m

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Note: Anthony James is from the RegenNarration podcast
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20 Comments

@incredible8me 1 year ago

WA GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ASHAMED.
HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE THE WORTH of this man's work.

@marcydoyle9279 1 year ago (edited)

Get Chris’s legal team to research the term ‘feral’. If any grazier contains a herd, manages numbers and paddock/area rotation, they are ‘domestic’ stock not ‘feral’ stock. Feral animals are those that take up running and breeding with no human input controls, this is not the case for this station’s operations. If all introduced animals such as horses and cattle were feral without distinctions, then so are our country’s ‘Thoroughbred racehorses’ and ‘beef’ production.

@ABCNewsIndepth Creator 1 year ago

Thanks to everyone who's asked for an update. The hearing is over and a decision is pending so things are still up in the air. We'll update you again as soon as we hear more.

@simonhawkins1892 1 year ago

As someone looking in from abroad, every time I watch a documentary about Australia's struggles, it seems that bureaucracy is the biggest barrier to repairing that country

@ashmouse 1 year ago

Zimbabwean origin farmers are the most tenacious people I've ever met

@Stokie89 1 year ago

Feral cats are decimating Australia yet the government want to go after this jem of a bloke for having a few donkeys worlds gone mad keep up the great work fighting for nature not just for your children but for every animal that owes its life to your great work ❤

@daviddean8198 1 year ago

What an amazing man, what an amazing woman, what a fabulous family! Australia is stronger, better and wealthier for 'new settlers' like these folks. Respect.

@Chris-ut6eq 1 year ago

The world needs more people like this. Let the science lead and legislators learn. No issue is simple and this is no exception.

@owenturnbull6424 1 year ago

This story rings a bell for me. In 1991 I drove up to Zimbabwe with a fellow student called John Nicholson to visit his parents on their farm in Southern Zimbabwe. His father had been one of the biggest farmers in Zimbabwe during the bush War. At the end of the war, he had to get rid of his farm or have it appropriated. He retired, but got bored and bought a small farm to keep busy. What impressed me was how open he was to try different farming techniques to look after wildlife and try to help nature. His neighbors may have thought him crazy but what he was doing made sense to me.

@martingomezcardenas1087 1 year ago

From Mexico: Thanks Chris and Chris familiy. Remember: “There are men who fight for one day and are good, there are others who fight for a year and are better, there are those who fight for many years and are very good but there are those who fight all their lives, those are the essential ones” (Bertolt Brecht). I am a biologist, and I know you are in the correct side of human history, and into the correct side of nature. Your work will be followed by me and by many of ecological restoration scientists.

@george-1961 1 year ago

As a wildlife gardener, I find this effort of Chris and his family to be an important message to how nature can be revived to how it should be. Absolutely loved what he has achieved in the name of nature and the environment, well done you for showing the way 😊

@richardwilliams1334 1 year ago

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.

@salivadriven 1 year ago

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.

@playwme3 1 year ago

I’ve got a 40 acre lifestyle block with nice varied terrain. Ever since we got our 2 pet donkeys the back paddocks they live in have never looked better. They eat the thistles and serrated tussock, they keep the dam walls in good condition and they can go anywhere. The bigger environmental pest is humans, but they don’t seem to be culling any of them.

@justiceforall8574 1 year ago

This earth needs people & family just like these guys.

@grantbell6117 1 year ago

As an ex Northern Rhodesian, now resident in Namibia i throughly enjoyed the documentary of your struggles and joys on conservation in the Kimberly area of Australia. I'm glad to see you haven't lost your Rhodesian accent! We will be praying for you and yours. Much blessings in Christ Jesus.

@BundyToo 1 year ago

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.

@thearmchairjournalist566 1 year ago

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

@DMoore-w2o 1 year ago

Chris, hit the nail on its head - if we stop innovating, then what chance do we have in bringing about beneficial change? Yet again we see a State Government making a blanket determination without taking the time to understand the results this family are recording. It’s a shame the WA Dept of Primary Industries didn’t comment and share their point of view on the donkeys, this possibly due to the upcoming hearing. I hope that the ABC post an update on the outcome of the hearing and this inspiring family. Dan Moore

@Gloriajeanne33 1 year ago

Great documentary.. You and your family are pioneers. Australia is a harsh land where you are. lt takes people of strength and perseverence to not only stay the distance, but to improve upon the harsh conditions. Big Respect & Gratitude for what you have learnt and are building as a legacy for generations to come.