Western Swamp Turtle

Apperance
The western swamp turtle or short-necked turtle has a flat shell that ranges in color from brown to black. Its neck is short, and the head is usually held sideways under the shell. It is Australia's smallest turtle and the male are larger than the females.

Length
A mature adult Western Swamp Turtle is approximately l2.5cm.

Habitat 
The Western Swamp Tortoise is confined to a very marginal habitat. Just like the name states they live in swamps when the swamps are filled with water during the seasons of winter/spring, the tortoises live an aquatic life. Shallower pools in the swamps usually begin to dry up in October, and turtles then move into deeper pools or other refuges; most turtles are in such refuges by mid-November or early December. With the summer drying out of the ephemeral swamp at Ellen Brook nature reserve where it occurs, this turtle aestivates in deep cracks and fissures in the clay.  

Eating and Diet Habits
The Western Swamp Tortoise is carnivorous. When the water level in the swamp is high it feeds on insects, larvae, tadpoles, small crustaceans and aquatic earthworms. During its period of aestivation it does not eat.

Predators
The small turtle does not have too many predators but is in danger to crodiles and other predators in the water..Since they are in a very small confined area they are made easy food for predators such as foxes , feral cats and dogs

Breeding Habits
 Males and females come together for a brief mating before the female lays her eggs in the swamp bank. There is no further parental care.  Only one lot of three to five hard-shelled eggs is laid per season. Hatchlings emerge in May or June following a gestation period of approximately 180 days.

Locations
The western swamp turtle is now restricted to the Ellen Brook Nature Reserve near the city of Perth, Western Australia.

Numbers
Only 35 or so individuals are believed to occur in the wild and is the most endangered turlte in the world.

Problems

•  It occurs naturally in a very small area at Ellen Brook NR.
• Currently the captive population is maintained at one location, the Perth zoo. In the event of some unforeseen pathogen decimating this group, the recovery program will be put back years. 
•  The husbandry expertise developed during the recovery program is restricted to too few people. If they should leave the program, a void in experienced people would occur.
• The small area of wild habitat and its proximity to Perth cause it to be continually under pressure from degradation resulting from the ever increasing development of surrounding areas.
• The Twin Swamps population has become extinct.
• It has been affected by disease and since it lives in water near the city the water can become polluted easily from just one dead animal or anything up stream which will come down and if it does not destory the turtle itself it may kill its food.

Solutions

• First there needs to be a buffer between any unforeseen decimation of the captive population.
• A portion of captive bred individuals must be provided to other interested zoos both in Australia and overseas.
• Any reintroduction should not be restricted to areas of habitat similar to Ellen Brook and Twin Swamps, but also include alternative areas of permanent water.
• Fifty pairs initially should be made available to private people who can demonstrate turtle husbandry capabilities by their local or wider contribution in this area. These could be sold at say $20,000 per pair (a return of one million dollars), an investment that would guarantee genuine attempts at breeding. At a later date, depending on the success or otherwise of the private breeders, an advertising campaign could be implemented promoting the Western swamp turtle as a 'state of the art' pet: attractive, easily maintained and owners would be contributing to its conservation.
• A predator proof fence is all ready in place.
• Elinimate all the predators where the turtle lives which would not be hard since they live in a small area.
• Make water restricted from boats and vechiles.
• Make huge fines for any littering or dumping waste near the turtles.
• Test the water for any pollutents often and act quickly if something happens.
• Revegetate the habitat of the Western Swamp Turtle.
• Start up conservation groups to help save this species.
• Inform the publis about this species.