TURTLE WATCH

WELcOME TO TURTLE WATCH

Turtle Watch is dedicated to providing information about the snake-necked or long-neck turtle (Chelodina colliei) of the south-west of Western Australia. This turtle is the only native freshwater turtle species found throughout metropolitan and suburban Perth. Snake-necked turtles have an important role to play in wetland and river health. They are considered to be the top predator in the underwater food chain.

Turtle Watch is an AAEEWA project and includes a collaborative network of community partners and individuals who work to facilitate the conservation of snake-necked turtles. Turtle Watch also aims to assist in the collection of information, including educational materials, to enhance awareness of the biology and needs of the snake-neck Turtle.

Background

Turtle Watch started in 2006. Turtle Watch 1 involved an initial turtle project located at Herdsman Lake, conducted from 2006 to 2008 and funded by a Community Conservation Grant. The findings of this project led to a follow-on project, Turtle Watch 2, which ran from 2011 to 2013, funded by a Lotterywest Grant. The Turtle Watch 2 project was located at three sites – Herdsman Lake, Bibra Lake and the Canning River. After the completion of Turtle Watch 2 it was agreed by participating partners that the initiative would continue as there was considerable community momentum to support an ongoing Turtle Watch commitment.

EDUCATION

The Turtle Watch Education Kit is proudly supported by AAEEWA. This Kit provides educational activities on the snake-necked turtle in particular, and other turtle species in general. It also provides information on conservation issues and turtle-friendly gardens.

We need your help!  To find out more about snake-neck turtles we need to know where they are living and what they are doing.  If you see a snake-neck turtle please log your sighting on the ClimateWatch website or call us on one of the Turtle Watch Hotlines listed below. In this way you may contribute as a citizen scientist to the growing data base of information about these turtles. We also run snake-necked turtle displays, talks and events that showcase the snake-neck turtle on a regular basis.  Keep an eye on the Latest News section on our home page for further details.

School Accreditation

Schools are encouraged to become a Turtle Watch Accredited School.  To become accredited schools must fulfil three criteria and supply evidence to support their application.  Once they have been accredited the school will receive a certificate to display in a prominent place within the school.

TURTLE WATCH NEWSLETTERS

May 2011
June 2011
July 2011
August 2011
September 2011
November 2011
December 2011
January 2012
February 2012
March 2012
June 2012
September 2012
December 2012

Other Resources

Click here for YouTube footage of a fox eating eggs that was captured during the project
Click here for Melville City Herald Article on Turtle Watch
Click here for Turtle Watch: Enhancing Science Engagement SCIOS Article

We hope you enjoy learning about turtles and become champions for turtle conservation.