Rescued turtles return to refilled wetland with 250 eggs on the way
After a wetland dried in April, 39 rescued turtles are now being returned with over 250 eggs incubating.
Thirteen turtles have been released back into Gingham Waterhole in the Gwydir Wetlands near Moree after the water returned. Thirty-nine turtles were rescued in April when the waterhole dried out completely, leaving them burrowed deep in the mud.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo nursed them back to health over months, cleaned off thick caked mud, and assessed their condition. Keepers also collected eggs from 14 female broad-shelled turtles and induced egg-laying, resulting in more than 250 eggs now incubating at the zoo.
All remaining adult turtles will be progressively returned to the wild. Hatchlings are expected to join them by the end of next year.
The breeding programme matters because foxes and feral pests dig up turtle nests in the wild, so zoo-incubated hatchlings offer a vital boost to the population.
- 39
- Turtles rescued
- 250+
- Eggs incubating
- 13 in September
- First batch released
- Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo
- Rehabilitation site
Why it mattersThe species lost 39 individuals when the wetland dried. The breeding programme could restore and strengthen the population.
AustraliaNSW wetland recovery now includes a large population of young turtles heading back to Gwydir, showing how habitat restoration can be paired with active species conservation.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 4 h ago
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