November is Turtle Month, and on the Bellinger River, home to the critically endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle, a #SavingOurSpecies survey is underway to gather population estimates and to do a health check.
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An estimated 200-300 mostly juvenile Bellinger River Snapping Turtles are surviving in the river after a virus killed about 90 per cent of the population in early 2015.
Specialists from the Office of Environment and Heritage have been joined in the field by PhD researchers from Western Sydney University and the Department of Primary Industries who are researching threats to the turtle population, including the virus threat.
Taronga Zoo and Symbio Wildlife park staff who manage captive insurance populations of the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle are also participating the survey, which will run until November 24.
Associate Professor Ricky Spencer from the School of Science and Health says November is a very dangerous time for turtles.
“Most turtles throughout the country are triggered to nest when the spring storms hit,” says Dr Spencer.
“They leave the safety of the water to lay their eggs on dry land and in doing so they often come into contact with urban developments, foxes and cars.”
Dr Spencer is the creator of TurtleSAT – a mobile app and website that encourages citizen scientists and the general community to log their sightings of turtles.
“We are essentially calling on the power of the people to save Australian turtles. We want people to watch out for turtles and use the TurtleSAT app to record where they see them,” says Dr Spencer.
The public is also urged to help by washing down canoes and kayaks with soapy water and drying thoroughly before reuse, especially when leaving the Bellinger catchment.
To report sick or dead turtles phone 131 555.
The TurtleSAT app can be downloaded from the app store, or sightings can be recorded at TurtleSAT.org.au. Follow the @Turtle.SAT Facebook page for updates.