Turtles in Trouble: The World's 25+ Most Endangered - Wildlife ...

Turtles in Trouble: Top 25+ Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles—2011Western Swamp TurtlePseudemydura umbrina Siebenrock 1901; Family ChelidaeAustralia (Western Australia)IUCN Red List: CR, Critically Endangered A1c, B1+2c, C1+2b, DCITES: Appendix IA small turtle exquisitelyadapted to life in the ephemeralclay swamps of the SwanRiver valley of Perth. Thissmall freshwater turtle of anancient and distinct familyhas a prominent spiny neckand grows no larger than 15cm shell length. This speciesis the only turtle known todig its nest with its forelimbs;all other turtles use their hindlimbs. It spends many monthsestivating during the hot drysummer, emerging for a fewmonths to feed and reproduceduring the wet season. Firstdescribed in 1901 based on aspecimen acquired by the ViennaNatural History Museumin 1839, the species was only rediscovered in its naturalhabitat in 1954. By then most of its habitat had alreadybeen drained and converted to suburbs, clay pits, vineyards,and cattle pastures. Although the wild populationwas estimated at over 200 in the 1960s, less than 20 adultsremained by the late 1980s.The species is restricted to the Perth region of WesternAustralia where it persists in only two small nature reservesof a few hectares each, and a multi-decade captive breedingeffort and intense protection through fencing and predatorexclusion, headed by Gerald Kuchling, has resulted in improvedsurvival rates in recent years. Reintroduction and introductionsof captive-bred turtles more than quadrupled theoverall population size in the wild, but despite these efforts,successful natural recruitment is currently only occurring inthe smallest population which had persisted on its own. Understandingthe effects of extreme seasonal changes on thePseudemydura umbrina from Western Australia. Photo by Gerald Kuchling.turtles’ biology and behavior proved to be the key to a successfulcaptive breeding program, which together with intensiveprotection of the remaining wetlands and reintroductionhas averted near-certain extinction. Despite this modest,hard-won progress, the species remains under severe threatfrom introduced predators (foxes and rats) as well as stochasticevents related to climate change: drought, increasedaridity, drying ponds, and bushfiresA collaborative research program involving differentUniversities and government agencies started in 2010 whichwill integrate biophysiological and hydrological models toidentify wetlands where Pseudemydura could survive andreproduce under drier, hotter climates. Continuing Federaland State funding of the recovery program will be needed toestablish additional assurance reintroduction and introductionsites to ensure survival of this ephemeral swamp specialistin a changing and drying climate.Distribution of Pseudemydura umbrina.P. umbrina in its tiny natural reserve. Photos by Gerald Kuchling.– 37 –