STUFF (New Zealand) 30 November 04 Turtle pest far more widespread than first thought
A turtle pest with the potential to damage native plant and animals seriously, is far more widespread than originally thought, say biosecurity officers.
Since a red-eared slider turtle was caught in the Bethells Valley west of Auckland several weeks ago, the Auckland Regional Council has been told of a lot more they had not expected.
ARC biosecurity officer Greg Hoskings, said they were surprised at the level of turtle population.
Earlier this month he said urgent action was needed to ban them from New Zealand to prevent them becoming established and threatening native plants and wildlife.
They are banned in several overseas countries but can be sold as pets in New Zealand.
The aggressive turtles have a painful bite, are prolific breeders and are known to carry diseases.
They have been classified as an extreme threat to native plants and animals and Mr Hoskings said they cannot be allowed to become established in New Zealand.
He said he was surprised so many had been reported since the Bethells find, including one in Howick on the other side of Auckland from Bethells Valley and Western Springs.
"We have had a lot of people ringing us with sightings. A lot of people had reported picking them up, including one lady at Muriwai Beach."
Another lady said a red-eared slider turtle ate all the tadpoles in her pond before heading downstream looking for more food, Mr Hoskings said.
"We never anticipated there were so many of them out there in the wild," Mr Hoskings said today.
He said they could seriously affect the native eco-system by eating native fish, crayfish, dragon fly larvae, ducklings and other birds and wildlife.
Some of the country's endangered bird species could be wiped out if the turtle became established, he said.
He appealed for any sightings of the turtle which is easily identified by a red stripe behind each eye.
The turtles were carnivores which ate a lot and were listed in Europe and Asia as one of the hundred greatest pests in the world.
Mr Hoskings said they should be banned because of the threat they posed.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3113472a7693,00.html
NEW ZEALAND FIRST PARTY (New Zealand) 03 December 04 Press Release: Turtles Faster Than Minister
If bets were being taken on whether the red-eared slider turtle could establish itself as another foreign pest before the Minister of Conservation banned sales of it, my money would be on the turtles, says New Zealand First’s conservation spokesman Edwin Perry.
“The Auckland Regional Council’s biosecurity staff caught a turtle several weeks ago west of Auckland at which time I suggested the Minister should immediately ban their sale. Since then the ARC has learnt there are many more living in the wild and posing a threat to native wildlife.
“The Department of Conservation is currently conducting risk assessments for the approximately 19 exotic reptiles and amphibians known to be present in New Zealand, including some in zoos, said Mr Perry.
“However red-eared slider turtles are not in zoos waiting for the outcome of DoC’s deliberations – they are in the wild and, as they are said to be prolific breeders, they are probably busy multiplying.
“Pussyfooting around completing paperwork is no substitute for actually doing something – in this case banning the sale and importation of any more of the turtles and taking steps to find any that are in the wild and breeding.
“If there is one thing we don’t need it is another imported species preying on native plants and birds. The Minister of Conservation has the means to prevent this but seemingly not the will,” said Mr Perry.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00106.htm
