Community urged to help protect South Australia's freshwater turtles
South Australians are being urged to help protect the state’s freshwater turtles this November by reporting sightings of turtles, nests and hatchlings through TurtleSAT.
November is Turtle Month, coinciding with the peak of freshwater turtle activity and nesting across South Australia. The call is part of the TURTLE (Together Understanding and Recovering Turtles in our Landscapes and Ecosystems) Project, led by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board, which is collecting vital information to help guide turtle conservation efforts.
Despite their resilience and long lifespans, turtle populations are declining due to a range of threats, including fox predation, road strikes, habitat loss and changing water regime. Freshwater turtles are commonly found near waterways, from the River Murray and floodplain wetlands to smaller creeks, lakes and farm dams.
Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board Senior Project Officer Citizen Science and Community Engagement Sylvia Clarke said that Turtle Month was an opportunity for everyone to play a part in protecting the state’s freshwater turtles.
"Every sighting reported through TurtleSAT helps us build a clearer picture of where turtles are living and nesting across South Australia. This information helps us identify where turtles may need extra protection, and we can then prioritise on-ground efforts such as installing safer artificial nesting islands in dams and wetlands and fox-proof fencing around nesting hotspots”, Sylvia said.
The community is encouraged to report sightings of live turtles, turtle nests, hatchlings, road crossings, and even predated nests and deceased turtles through the free TurtleSAT app or at turtlesat.org.au.
These citizen science records will be used to better understand turtle populations and help inform the development of South Australia's turtle management plan due for release next year, supporting future conservation and protection efforts.
For more information on the TURTLE Project, turtle monitoring and conservation and to access the TurtleSAT app, visit flow.landscape.sa.gov.au/turtle-project
This project is supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board and a range of partners with funding from the South Australian Government’s Landscape Priorities Fund.
