A creep of critically endangered Western Swamp Tortoises was today released back into their former habitat at Moore River Nature Reserve north of Perth.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher said the 30 tortoises were bred at Perth Zoo and their translocation was part of the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Plan, which aimed to bring the species back from the brink of extinction.

“The Western Swamp Tortoise is one of the world’s rarest tortoises and is Australia’s most endangered reptile,” Mrs Faragher said.

“Just 50 adult tortoises exist naturally in two locations in the Swan Valley.

“Since 1994, the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team has made significant headway in increasing the numbers of the animals in the wild in Western Australia, but there is a long way to go to ensure the survival of the species.

“The tortoise did occur naturally in the Moore River but died out due to predation by feral animals and the onset of a drier climate in the past few decades.

“Rainfall levels this year have produced favourable conditions for their release.

“Western Swamp Tortoises require swamps and plenty of surface water during winter and spring, burrowing under the ground during the warmer, dry months, and this nature reserve is ideal for that process.

“The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has undertaken habitat modifications at the release site to improve conditions for the tortoise and provide resilience to drier climatic conditions.”

Prior to release the tortoises were weighed, measured and fitted with radio transmitters to ensure they could be monitored and tracked at the reserve.

DEC co-ordinates the recovery program in partnership with the Perth Zoo, the Natural Heritage Trust, the Perth Region Natural Resource Management (NRM) Group, the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise.

Recently, the Minister announced the allocation of $250,000 of NRM funding to continue tortoise recovery work.

“The Perth Zoo has run a successful breeding program since 1988 to produce more than 450 captive-bred tortoises for release into the wild,” she said.

“Since 1994, more than 400 individuals have been released with the oldest now reaching breeding age.”

Last year, 44 Western Swamp Tortoises were successfully released into Moore River Nature and Mogumber Nature Reserves.

Minister's office - 9213 7250