MURRAY VALLEY STANDARD (Murray Bridge, Australia) 13 May 08 Fresh start for Lower Lakes turtles

Very descriptive photo at URL below: Weighed down: A tortoise before the tube worm is cleaned from its shell.

Tortoises once struggling for their lives in the salty Lower Lakes will now be given a fresh start.

Native long-necked and short-necked tortoises have been attacked by tube worms because of the increased salinity of the Lower Lakes.

But, after some tender care by volunteers, the tortoises will be released to fresh water areas between Mannum and Wellington.

Department for Environment and Heritage Coorong and Lakes District senior ranger Stuart Hicks said some of the tortoises found had been in a serious condition.

“Tube worms attach to the shell of the tortoises and create a hard calcium mass, up to a few inches thick, which looks like coral,” he said.

“The calcium weighs down the animal and covers the openings to the shell, stopping the limbs, head or tail from exiting the shell and restricting the animal’s movement and capacity to feed.”

The Mannum to Wellington Local Action Planning Association will be involved in releasing 40 of the reptiles today at locations such as Wellington Marina, Tailem Bend and Paiwalla Swamp, Murray Bridge.

Although tube worms can survive in fresh water there is not as much likelihood for the parasite to be as prolific there as it is in the salty lakes.

Before the tortoises are released the tube worm shell is scrubbed off, they are kept in fresh water for up to two weeks and given a wash in ethanol solution prior to release.

Details: For more information contact the DEH Coorong and Lakes district office on 8555 3059.
Fresh start for Lower Lakes turtles

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