Western Swamp Tortoise
The Western Swamp Tortoise is one of the rarest reptiles in Australia.
They are only found in a few places in the Swan Valley. If these swamps were filled in the tortoise would no longer survive. Predators to the Western Swamp Tortoise are cats, foxes, and rats; these animals eat the tortoise or their eggs. This small tortoise was presumed extinct from 1840 to 1953 when it was rediscovered again. A boy found one crossing the road and took it to a ‘pet day’ held at his school, during the day an officer of the council visited the school and took the tortoise back to the animal lab to look at it further. Since then, these tortoises have only been found in two small areas of natural habitat-Twin Swamps and Ellen Brook Nature Reserves.
There is a breeding program at the Perth Zoo’s Native species Breeding Program. It has been breeding Western Swamp Tortoises since the 1990’s. They have successfully released over 400 into the wild. The areas are fenced and netted off to prevent all predators from having access to the newly released tortoises.
Donations can be made to assist with this breeding program. Part proceeds of Delron’s Waterless Division are allocated to assist with the breeding program of the Western Swamp Tortoise. To donate to the zoo’s breeding program please contact Jan Bant 9344 2872 or 040 802 4800, website www.westernswamptortoise.com
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
Breeding and Lifecycle
This tortoise lives in ephemeral swamps that fill with water in winter and spring but are dry in summer and autumn. When the swamps are filled with water, the tortoises feed on small aquatic invertebrates. When the swamps are dry, they aestivate (dig) in holes in the ground of deep leaf litter.
They take 8-15 years to reach sexual maturity. Females lay between 1-5 hard-shelled eggs during late spring. They hatch the following winter and are about the size of a 10 cent piece. They live for 60-70 years.
Appearance
The Western Swamp Tortoise has a short neck, webbed toes with 5 claws on each foot, the colour of yellow with black dots underneath. They grow to 13cm and weigh 300-400 grams as adults, the shell is either black or brown, and their neck is covered in knobbles.
