Together for Turtles!
We’re excited to be part of the TURTLE Project (Together Understanding & Restoring Turtles in our Landscapes and Ecosystems) - a vital initiative focused on the conservation of freshwater turtles across South Australia.
Across our region, our creeks, wetlands, and swamps are home to two remarkable freshwater turtle species - the Short-necked Turtle (Emydura macquarii) and the Eastern Long-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis). These ancient reptiles play an important role in keeping our waterways healthy, yet their numbers are declining due to habitat loss, predators, and road strikes.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of the TURTLE Project – Together Understanding and Restoring Turtles in our Landscapes and Ecosystems. This South Australian initiative brings together landscape boards, councils, First Nations partners, NGOs, researchers, and community groups to better understand and protect our native turtle populations.
Throughout the two years of this project, we’ll be:
✨ Raising community awareness about turtle conservation and the challenges they face
✨ Hosting educational talks and fun activities to inspire people of all ages
✨ Working alongside First Nations people, combining cultural knowledge with science to support turtle monitoring and protection.
Every sighting helps! By recording turtle observations on TurtleSAT — an easy-to-use citizen science app — the community can help scientists build a clearer picture of where turtles live, nest, and face threats. This information guides on-ground conservation work such as fencing nesting sites, installing basking platforms, and restoring wetland habitat.
Visit the TurtleSat website by clicking below…
Chelodina longicollis - the Long-necked turtle
This project is an initiative of the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board with funding from the South Australian Government’s Landscape Priorities Fund.
