Fifty baby turtles will provide a boost to the wild population of an endangered freshwater turtle species after they are released into the Macdonald River near Bendemeer this week.
Image - One of a group of over 260 juvenile Bell's Turtles in the research lab at UNE. They will be released at different sites around the region in a quest to conserve the species.
The Bell’s Turtle hatchlings are being released under the Turtles Forever program, funded by the NSW Environmental Trust, which has fostered a unique collaboration between local farmers, the University of New England, Local Land Services, ecologists and two detection dogs.
Bell’s Turtle eggs were collected from gravid female turtles and incubated and hatched at the University of New England. Research student Louise Streeting is evaluating different conservation strategies to increase the number of juvenile turtles in the wild population. Louise’s project involves the laboratory rearing of hatchlings for release and the protection of nests in the wild.
Louise said the hatchlings are part of a group of over 260 juvenile turtles being released at different sites in a quest to conserve the species. The hatchlings are released into the river at sites where their mothers were found.
“Currently the biggest threat to the Bell’s Turtle is fox predation of nests. Over 95% of Bell’s Turtle nests are raided by foxes each season and very few hatchlings are making it in to the river. The adult population is ageing and low juvenile recruitment could result in a population crash”, said Louise.
The Turtles Forever program is a ten-year project focusing on four catchments across the Northern Tablelands and funded with $985,191 from the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust Saving Our Species Partnership grant program.
The program involves two springer spaniel detection dogs called Bunya and Max. The dogs are trained to locate Bell’s Turtle nests so that the nests can be protected from fox predation. Wire mesh placed over the nests keeps foxes out and allows hatchling turtles to emerge and scramble down the riverbank to the water.
The Bell’s Turtle is a unique short-necked turtle restricted to upland streams in the Namoi, Gwydir and Border Rivers catchments. These turtles are aquatic and the female only leaves the water to lay her eggs in the riverbank. The nests are difficult to find without Max and Bunya’s help.
Northern Tablelands Local Land Services Bell’s Turtle project manager Martin Dillon said the program could not have happened without support from local farmers who have received funding support to protect and restore streamside turtle habitat.
“These landholders also undertake year-round fox control and work with the project team to protect wild turtle nests that the detector dogs have found, using fox-proof mesh. We will be selecting more sites next spring, and interested landholders are encouraged to contact Local Land Services”, said Martin.
The Turtles Forever project will help inform the management programs that will support the long-term viability of Bell’s Turtle populations in the wild for the next century and beyond.
