A SECOND NATURE PROJECT
TURTLE Project
Together Understanding and Restoring Turtles in our Landscapes and Ecosystems
This project is supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board and a range of partners with funding from the South Australian Government’s Landscape Priorities Fund
The Objective
Freshwater turtles are declining across South Australia, with population losses recorded in the River Murray and limited data available for other regions.
South Australia is home to four freshwater turtle types: the Eastern Long-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis), River Murray Short-necked Turtle (Emydura macquarii), Broadshell Turtle (Chelodina expansa), and the Cooper Creek Turtle.
Freshwater turtles play a vital ecological role in waterway health and are culturally significant to First Nations peoples.
This project brings together science, First Nations knowledge and community action to address key threats, support habitat protection, and encourage citizen science through TurtleSAT to guide freshwater turtle conservation across South Australia.
Further Details…
In 2025 we delivered;
A community workshop in Victor Harbor, collaborating with City of Victor Harbor Environment and Sustainability Team, and community volunteer groups
Information displays at Goolwa and Strathalbyn libraries during peak nesting time to create community awareness and encourage the use of TurtleSat
Wrote an article about the Project for Coast Lines magazine
Happening in 2026
More community workshops, nest surveys and talks
Other activities to be announced…
And lots more…
Visit the dedicated Project page below!
A key tool in improving turtle data is the use of TurtleSat, a citizen science app to upload observations. To learn more about Turtle Sat and how to use it, click the link below! Or get in touch, we would be happy to give you a tutorial…
Further Resources…
Want to learn more? Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board have some fantastic species guides, click on the image to view online, or pop into the Resource Centre to grab a copy…
This project is supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board and a range of partners with funding from the South Australian Government’s Landscape Priorities Fund
What a fantastic morning we had in Victor Harbor last Friday! With perfect weather and a keen group of turtle-loving locals, our first turtle workshop was a huge success.