Australia's freshwater turtles fight for survival
Sun 24 September 2006
Brad Gardner, Journalism
They are a species typified as slow, but Australia’s freshwater turtles’ decline towards extinction is anything but.
The endangered Mary River turtle can only be found in the Mary River drainage system in south-east Queensland, Australia.
The Mary River turtle is unlike any other turtle in the world. The Australian Freshwater Turtle Conservation and Research Association (AFTCRA) website said it has a unique sized and shaped tail that can grow to 70 per cent the length of the turtle’s shell. 
Yet this unique animal faces a bleak future. The Mary River turtle has been in decline since 1970. Turtle conservationist Craig Latta, who, along with his wife Gabrielle, founded AFTCRA, said people illegally took turtles and their eggs from the Mary River between 1970 and 1981 to fuel the pet trade.
“It is estimated up to 100,000 turtles were collected during this period,” Mr Latta said.
“The Mary River turtle may never recover from this harvesting.”
Predators are taking their toll on the Mary River turtle population as well.
“Their nests are destroyed by feral pests such as foxes and wild dogs,” AFTCRA’s website said.
“It appears none of the eggs are hatching and reaching adulthood. Once the adults are all gone the Mary River turtle will fade from existence.”
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) lists the Mary River turtle as endangered, and one of 25 turtles in the world facing the threat of extinction in the near future.
Now the Mary River turtle is about to come under attack from the Queensland State Government. Queensland Premier Peter Beattie wants to turn the Mary River into a dam. He proposes to build a 660,000 mega litre dam to address Queensland’s water shortage crisis and to meet the demands of a growing population.
Politics aside, if a dam is built, the Mary River turtle faces a tough battle to survive.
Leader of the Greens Party, Senator Bob Brown, was blunt in his assessment of what will happen to the Mary River turtle as well as other endangered species in the Mary River if a dam is built.
“They are gone, finished, out if that dam is built,” Senator Brown said during his speech against the Mary River dam proposal at the University of the Sunshine Coast on May 28, 2006.
Save the Mary River Coordinating Group website said the Mary River turtle will be unable to breed if a dam is built.
“The Mary River turtle utilises only sandy riverbanks to lay eggs. The proposed dam will flood several known locations of this rare and critical nesting habitat,” the community group said.
“These important sandy banks will be lost to the Mary River turtle, making reproduction impossible.”
As well as this, current Mary River turtle populations will be killed.
“When floods overflow this dam wall, many turtles will have their shells smashed as they hit the bottom, which will cause a slow and painful death,” Mr Latta said.
However, the Beattie Government said it will try to minimise the dam’s impact on the Mary River turtle. Eco, an environmental newspaper, quoted Mr Beattie saying: “we will be working closely with the environment movement to ensure minimal impact on species.”
It is not only the Mary River turtle that will be decimated by the Beattie Government’s plans to shore up more water for future generations. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Water, Henry Palaszczuk said the Beattie Government will raise the Eden Bann weir and build a new weir at Rookwood on the Fitzroy River in Central Queensland.
The Fitzroy River just happens to be home to the unique Fitzroy River turtle. Greening Australia, an environmental not-for-profit organisation, said on its website, the Fitzroy River turtle is the only turtle with the ability to breathe through its anus.
In the book, Survivors in Armour, author Ronald Orenstein said the Fitzroy River turtle is confined to the Fitzroy River drainage system. Raising weir water levels and building another weir may flood vegetation, killing the turtle’s food source, and destroy banks essential for reproduction.
Yet this is not the only government action threatening the Fitzroy River turtle. Premier Beattie wants to build a dam on the Dawson River, which is part of the Fitzroy River drainage system.
AFTCRA’s website said the proposed 880,000 mega litre dam, which is to be built for the purpose of irrigating 30,000 hectares of land for cotton farming, could potentially wipe out the Fitzroy River turtle. 
“Cotton crops require large amounts of fertilisers, pesticides and water for irrigation. The run off from the crops can make its way back into the river system carrying with it high levels of pollutants and sediments,” AFTCRA’s website said.
“This will have detrimental effects on the whole river ecosystem.”
Already the Fitzroy River turtle is struggling from habitat degradation. AFTCRA’s website said the clean water the turtle prefers has been decimated by turbid water full of chemicals and pesticides. The organisation said such pollutants cause life threatening skin diseases to Fitzroy River turtle hatchlings.
Further compounding the turtle’s fight for survival is its declining numbers.
AFTCRA’s website said there appears to be no hatchlings reaching maturity to replace those dying.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s website said the Fitzroy River turtle is listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
But it may only be a matter of time before the Mary and Fitzroy River turtle join the Western Swamp turtle on the critically endangered list.
The Department of Environment and Heritage website said a very small geographic range, agricultural impacts, increased aridity and predation by foxes led to the near extinction of the Western Swamp turtle. These very factors are now threatening the existence of the Mary River turtle and the Fitzroy River turtle.
In the book, Survivors in Armour, author Ronald Orenstein said: “the Western Swamp turtle is not only the rarest turtle in Australia; it is one of the rarest turtles in the world.”
The Western Swamp turtle is listed as critically endangered by IUCN. It occurs in only in two small areas in Perth, Western Australia. In the book, Australian freshwater turtles, author John Cann said the Western Swamp turtle is confined to Ellen Brook (65ha) and Twin Swamps (155ha).
The Western Swamp turtle was on the verge of extinction at one stage. IUCN said its numbers dwindled to less than 30 during the 1980s.
Yet all hope is not lost for Australia’s freshwater turtles. Mr and Mrs Latta have set up breeding programs to conserve populations.
“We privately keep approximately 13 species of Australian freshwater turtle and have successfully bred up to eight to nine species each year, numbering up to 500 hatchlings in total,” Mr Latta said.
This includes the Mary River turtle and the Fitzroy River turtle.
Mr and Mrs Latta hope, through AFTCRA, to open conservation education centres and teach schools and the public about the threats to Australia’s freshwater turtles.
Australia Zoo, which is about 30 minutes north of Brisbane, currently houses two adult Mary River turtles and is hoping to successfully breed them to ensure its survival.
And there is hope for the Western Swamp turtle. The IUCN said a successful captive breeding program set up in the 1980s resulted in boosting the Western Swamp turtle’s numbers from 30 to 423 by 2002. Mr Latta said the number had risen to 590 in captivity by 2006, while 316 had been released into the wild.
Mrs Latta said Australia’s freshwater turtles can survive as long as their habitats are sustained and their conservation is taken seriously. But there is little time to act.
“Basically, we need to take action now to reverse the damage that’s already been done. We need people who are dedicated and educated to make this happen,” Mrs Latta said.
Image(s) designed by Craig & Gabrielle Latta
Enter comments about this article
Submitted Comments
I have been involved with caring for freshwater turtles in Goolwa South Australia. Initially for tube worm infestation that killed off 1000's followed by shell rot because of water condition and now they are being flushed through the murray mouth and turning up on our beaches much the worse for wear. one of the beach turtles laid eggs that have hatched after 87days. DENR protocol us to release straight away. I would appreciate a comment from you
Maureen Agars
I don,t want it to go ahead stop it please
craig
i would like to know about some of the turtles on south east qld because we have tutles in a water hole on our property and its drying up
if anyone has any info email me on
Samantha Wunsch
Even though this is a really long article, I found it really easy to read and follow. It made me want to do something to help, those little turtles sound so helpless! I also thought it was good that the story was presented objectively and both sides were shown well.
Brigitta Gant
A section of old growth forest was saved from logging in Oregon to preserve the habitat of the spotted owl. Hopefully, we can launch the same kind of campaign.
Florence Perkins