The Mary River turtle yesterday, today, tomorrow... Samantha Flakus and Marilyn Connell 1 Acknowledgements Tiaro & District Landcare wish to gratefully acknowledge Sinclair Knight Mertz who were official sponsor of the 2006 Queensland Landcare Innovation Award. The prize money received from this award provided financial assistance for this project. We also wish to recognise Ergon Energy and staff for supporting our chocolate turtle drives and the many other individuals who have purchased our chocolates in recent years. This booklet could not have been produced without the assistance of the many people involved in its compilation. In particular, we wish to thank John Cann for his wonderful photos and Julie Hinchliffe for helping to pull everything together. Dr Col Limpus and staff from QPWS deserve thanks for providing technical assistance for our conservation project, as do all Project Officers and volunteers who have assisted with the conservation of this turtle. Thanks also to the many landholders, businesses and organisations who have generously offered their assistance to the Mary River turtle project over the years. 2 3 Contents Publication details Published by Tiaro & District Landcare Group Inc. Feedback welcome. Web: www.maryriverturtle.com (or www.mrccc.org.au/tiaro.html). Post: PO Box 6, Tiaro QLD, Australia 4650 First edition September 2008. About the authors ISBN 978-0-646-50067-6 Samantha Flakus (above left) has been a huge fan of the Mary River turtle since Words by Samantha Flakus and Marilyn she first began studying the species in Connell. 1997 as part of a Masters degree at the University of Queensland. She spent her Cover, editing and design by Julie teenage years growing up in Gympie Hinchliffe, Great Sandy Publications. where she developed an appreciation for the great outdoors - especially all things Photographs by Marilyn Connell except aquatic. With the Mary River right on her where stated otherwise. doorstep, Sam’s passion for turtles was born. She sees writing this booklet as Map kindly produced and supplied by the perfect way to educate young people Dale Watson, Mary River Catchment about one of Australia’s unique freshwater forward 6 Coordinating Committee (MRCCC). turtle species, the Mary River turtle. When MRCCC makes no representations she isn’t researching turtles, Sam enjoys introduction 8 or warranties about its accuracy, swimming, surfing and travelling. reliability, completeness and disclaims yesterday 12 all responsibility and all liability (including Tiaro & District Landcare President today 18 without limitation, liability or negligence) Marilyn Connell (above right) has for all expenses, losses, damages a twinkle in her eye whenever she tomorrow 26 (including indirect or consequential mentions the Mary River turtle... Like damage) and costs which might be many locals, Marilyn spent her youth resources 32 incurred as a result of the data being exploring Maryborough’s waterways inaccurate or incomplete in any way and (but never heard of the turtle until she for any reason. This map is not to be met Samantha). Now an environmental sold or re-made as part of a commercial consultant, Marilyn has clocked up product. 18 years working in the environment industry, 14 of which were spent with Printed in Toowoomba, Australia by Greening Australia. She feels strongly Greenridge Press Pty Ltd on recycled about two things - observing ecological paper (9 Lives Silk Art). processes in order to inform practical restoration and management, and finding Copyright text and images: © Tiaro the balance between conservation and & District Landcare Group Inc. 2008. production. She has been coordinating No part of this publication may be Tiaro Landcare projects for the past reproduced, transmitted, stored or 10 years and loves nothing better than retrieved by any means without the working alongside community members, publisher’s prior permission. researchers and professionals. 4 5 Forward these challenges? We are nests to increase the survival proud to say our group draws its of hatchlings. Among other inspiration from an ‘ambassador’; things, we also fund a support a previously secretive, rarely-seen scholarship for a post-graduate local who is rapidly becoming one student. Many landholders, of the most fascinating and likable businesses and organisations characters in this part of the world have generously offered us their - the Mary River turtle. assistance. In fact, the success of Tiaro & District Landcare first initiatives such as the chocolate formed in 1997. Back then, like turtle drive continues to surprise most people, we were ignorant of and delight us. the existence of the Mary River As you read through this booklet, turtle. Our habitat restoration work we invite you to explore the along the river banks, however, knowledge of yesterday and soon had us crossing paths with today, so that together, we can Samantha Flakus (co-author of look to protect the Mary River this book). Samantha brought turtle tomorrow and further into us up to speed with the turtle’s the future. Like us, you may remarkable story of survival and experience feelings of horror, the research she’d just begun. amazement and inspiration. Tiaro & District Landcare members at a fencing working bee to protect nesting banks (left to right / back row: Lynn Klupfel, Ray Klupfel and Adrian Ross, front row: Jan We were horrified, amazed We also invite you to take heart Mortimer and Ron Black) and inspired. Horrified by the from the fact that our efforts to terrible (albeit unintentional) protect the turtle’s habitat and pressure from humans forced life cycle are helping many other By Tiaro & District Landcare on this ancient creature in such native species at the same time. a short space of time; amazed “Inspired by the Mary River turtle” production and nature that the ‘embattled’ population of turtles still lingered in our local is a fitting way to describe us. conservation. As well as looking Natalie Mathie (left) receives the Mary waterways; and inspired to ramp Let’s face it - Landcare can be at the science, economics and River turtle support scholarship up our Landcare efforts and do a broad and tricky concept to practicalities of land and water the very best we could for the get our heads around. It tackles management, we need to inspire Mary River turtle. everything from how we farm and people with different values and use our land/water resources, backgrounds to work together. At By 2001, our turtle program was to how we look after natural times, it can be a real juggling act formally underway. In the years ecosystems. and the answers are not always following, we have achieved as clear or straightforward as we great things for Landcare in our Our Landcare group is always might like. area by informing people about looking for ways to balance So how on earth do we meet this unique turtle and protecting 6 7 Introduction he Mary River turtle, Elusor natural environment has to offer. Tmacrurus, boasts a long and Not all of us, however, have Kingdom Anamalia interesting history of discovery. fully come to grips with just how Eluding scientists for almost thirty diverse different species can be. years after its discovery in the For many of us, a turtle is ‘just’ pet trade, this unique species a turtle, and the same goes for Phylum Chordata of Australian freshwater turtle is many other animals. now fascinating many students, Is this really true? Or is there farmers and local folk. It has more to turtles than first meets become a local icon and was the the eye? Let’s take a look at the Sub-Phylum faunal emblem of the Tiaro Shire turtle’s family tree (opposite) to Vertebrata Council. find out more… This resource has been compiled Although there are many different to give you an insight into the life Class Reptilia animals in the world, they all (turtles, snakes, lizards etc) of the Mary River turtle. It is aimed form part of Kingdom Anamalia. at helping teachers, students and According to this system of Order Testudines biologists discover the true nature classification, animals are of this secretive turtle. A guide to (marine turtles, freshwater grouped together based on their turtles & land tortoises) current publications, websites and similarities. They are divided into resources is also provided. two major groups depending And now, it is our pleasure to on whether or not they have a Pleurodirans Cryptodirans introduce the Mary River turtle…. backbone. Turtles belong to the (side-necked turtles) (head withdrawn in an ‘S’ bend) Chordates; those animals that have a backbone. Turtles are further grouped into Chelidae Carretochelydae Class Reptilia. Turtles share this group with other reptiles such as snakes, lizards and Side-necked turtles Long-necked turtles crocodiles. As we progress down (4 genera & 24 species in Australia) (1 genus & 6 species in Australia) the classification, turtles form their own group known as Order Mary River turtle Testudines. The Testudines include all turtles such as marine further split into side-necked You are probably beginning to A turtle is ‘just’ a turtle… turtles, freshwater turtles and land species that bend their neck to the realise that turtles are not ‘just’ or is it? tortoises. Australia is only home to side when it is withdrawn or turtles turtles. Their classification is marine and freshwater turtles. Many people in today’s society that withdraw their neck in an ‘S’ complex and based on many are astounded by what our The freshwater turtle group is bend. The Mary River turtle is a physical and genetic features. side-necked turtle. 8 9 Introduction Is it a turtle or a tortoise? Generally speaking, all turtles that live in water are known as turtles and those that live on land are tortoises. Tortoises have club- like feet and are slow moving. Turtles have either flippers, like Mary River turtle (photo courtesy: marine turtles, or webbed feet like John Cann) freshwater turtles.