NEWS MAIL (Bundaberg, Australia) 11 December 13 River receives turtle gift for Christmas

Forty freshly hatched white snapping turtles have been released back into the Burnett River three kilometres from Bundaberg, as part of a replenishment program to boost the number of adult freshwater turtles in the river system.

Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said the species is native to the Mary-Burnett-Fitzroy Catchments and produced the largest hatchlings of freshwater turtle in Queensland.

"It is very encouraging to see the success of projects such as this that can help ensure these turtles call our region home for years to come," Mr Bennett said.

Mr Bennett praised the efforts of local volunteers who have been working with scientists to help protect the clutches of turtle eggs on the banks of the Burnett catchment.

"We have some amazing people in our community who are extremely passionate about caring for and protecting the region's turtle population and this release is a credit to them," he said.

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Andrew Powell said the program was important for the species in Queensland.

"Because of major loss of eggs to predators, like foxes and cats, there is a major shortage of immature turtles in the population," Mr Powell said.

"The 40 newly hatched turtles are part of an ongoing management plan to increase hatchling production and build adult numbers in the wild.

EHP Chief Scientist Dr Col Limpus said the hatchlings had been raised at the department's purpose built incubation facility in Bundaberg safe from predators.

"We have had the first four clutches of white throated snapping turtles hatch and are presently measuring, weighing and taking genetic samples of all the hatchlings at our Mon Repos research lab for future analysis ahead of this week's release back into the Burnett River," Dr Limpus said.

"These eggs should be hatching soon as an early Christmas present to the community."
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