Around this time of year, as the swamps are filling up, Western Swamp Tortoises are leaving their summer hideout and returning to the water to feed. Over the summer the tortoises remained inactive by aestivating, but what does this mean?
The Friends Group has recently purchased three of Guundie Kuchling’s books about the Western Swamp Tortoise. Yakkinn the Swamp Tortoise: The most dangerous year follows the life of Yakkinn from hatchling to 12 months old. Delightful illustrations and evocative text helps children understand the problems facing Western Swamp Tortoises in their first year of life. This book is recommended by the Children’s Book Council of Australia.
It’s not often you get an invitation to make the difference between life and death, is it? Well here it is: your invitation to join a group of dedicated volunteers (Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise) who have one important aim in common – to save the critically endangered Western Swamp Tortoise from extinction. We want to save the lives of wild tortoises and improve their habitat so that captive-bred animals can survive in the wild.
A possible new site to be investigated for tortoise habitat in the longer term – Benger Swamp.