We are pleased to announce another conservation initiative we are championing in Australia, an area dense with turtle species in need of protection. Our latest project is with the Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) in the top end of tropical northern Australia. This is a monotypic and unique riverine species whose range is restricted to New Guinea and Australia. Heavy poaching in New Guinea highlights the need for its conservation within Australia. Yet, its distribution in Australia and the population status of its stronghold in the Daly River are unknown. Filling these knowledge gaps is critical to the protection of the species in Australia, especially given the constant threat of water extraction from the catchment for irrigating agriculture. In partnership with the University of South Florida, the University of New England, and Heinrich Ecological Services, Turtle Survival Alliance is supporting the work of biologists to conduct the demography and population status studies for this species as well as identifying threats to the Australian populations.
This July, the 23rd Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles offered a platform to present this research. Key biologists on the project, Sean Doody, George Heinrich, and Deb Bower, gave a presentation on the conservation efforts for the Pig-nosed Turtle they have initiated, results of their studies so far, and what further research and surveys are needed to learn more about the species’ needs. We’re proud to support the biologists conducting critical conservation work to this understudied species.
Acknowledgements:
IguanaLand, Coastal Wildlife Club, University of South Florida, Turtle Conservation Fund
Header image: The Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta). Photo courtesy of Sean Doody
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About Turtle Survival Alliance
Formed in 2001 and gaining nonprofit status in 2004, Turtle Survival Alliance is a global conservation organization with a mission to protect and restore wild populations of turtles through science-based conservation, global leadership, and local stewardship. Our science-based initiatives are directed by local leaders, inspiring sustainable, community-based stewardship to prevent extinctions. Where populations cannot yet thrive in the wild, our conservation breeding programs preserve opportunities for their future survival. Turtle Survival Alliance operates or supports projects in 30 countries around the world, protecting critical habitats and providing on-the-ground resources to safeguard the most imperiled turtle and tortoise species. Through these efforts, we make a positive impact on well over 100 species of turtles and tortoises. For more information, join the conversation and learning experience on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
