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 was an AAEEWA project and included a collaborative network of community partners and individuals who worked to facilitate the conservation of snake-necked turtles. Turtle Watch also aimed 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.

What to do if you find a hatchling:

Gently place it at the edge of the nearest lake or wetland and let it make its way into the water

If the hatchling looks dehydrated or injured, take it to WA Wildlife for care

Log your sighting on TurtleSAT to help track and protect our turtle populations: https://ow.ly/AhfJ50VkqFb

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.

To find out more about snake-neck turtles we need to know where they are living and what they are doing.  In this way you may contribute as a citizen scientist to the growing data base of information about these turtles. You can contact TurtleSAT to help track and protect our turtle populations: https://ow.ly/AhfJ50VkqFb