STIRLING TIMES (Australia) 08 October 13 Concern over harmful turtle sighting (Tom Rabe)
[COLOR="#006400"]Photo @ URL: The red-eared slider turtle, an introduced species, could throw the whole eco system out of balance, a local environment group claims.
The highly destructive introduced red-eared slider turtle has been seen at the Baigup Wetlands between Bayswater and Maylands, sparking concern among local environment group members.
Baigup Wetlands Interest Group co-ordinator Penny Lee said members had seen the turtle on four occasions and were concerned by the lack of immediate action taken by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
“I’m surprised if they think it’s such a major potential hazard. As far as we know there are no colonies in WA,” she said.
“Why wouldn’t you attend to it?”
Department of Agriculture and Food invasive species manager Lindsay Strange said the red-eared slider turtle was a declared pest in WA and the department was working with other agencies to remove the turtle from the wetlands.
“The red-eared slider turtle is considered a significant environmental threat and it has been found established in the wild in various parts of Australia where they compete with and predate on native species,” he said.
Ms Lee said the turtle put stress on ecosystems that were already heavily under strain from other introduced species.
“Nowadays you’ve got cats, you’ve got foxes, you’ve got introduced rats, as well as the native water rats and now you’ve got an introduced turtle. Now one turtle is probably not a disaster but if it were to breed and form a colony it would be; you have just simply thrown the whole ecology out of balance,” she said.
Ms Lee said she thought the fines for having a red-eared slider turtle were so harsh that it might be discouraging people from handing in their pets in a proper way.
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