The Margaret River Chocolate Company has joined with Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise to help save Australia’s most critically endangered reptile. The official launch of a special chocolate tortoise called ‘Swampy’ was held at on March 19, 2012 at their Swan Valley factory in West Swan Road. Part proceeds of each box sold will be donated to the group for use on various projects that will help pull this species back from the brink of extinction.

The company has been manufacturing limited numbers of the chocolate tortoises since August 2011. These have proved so popular with customers that production has been ramped up, with extra moulds sourced from overseas. Every box carries a special sticker with information about the tortoise and the work of the Friends group. Swampy is being sold at the Swan Valley and Margaret River factories, and also at the new Perth City outlet. At the recent product launch, co-owner Martin Black presented the Friends with a cheque for $1500.

Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise chairperson Jan Bant said the group was delighted to have the Margaret River Chocolate Company as a major supporter, because it would help increase public awareness as well as raise much needed funds to keep breeding, education and fieldwork programs going. She said hundreds of thousands of people visited the chocolate factories each year and they would now be exposed to information and products promoting the work of the Friends group and raising the profile of this unique, little-known Western Australian.

On July 22 2011, DEC and the Perth Zoo released 30 captive-bred young tortoises between 2 and 7 years of age at Moore River National Park, site of last year’s release. Around half had radio-tracking devices attached to the shell. This year's event was not open to members of the public.
Last year most of the tortoises were subsequently taken back to the zoo, due to low water levels and these animals were re-released at the site this time.

On August 6 2011, 33 more young tortoises were released at Twin Swamps Nature Reserve and 12 of these had radio-tracking devices. The WA Environment Minister Bill Marmion attended, along with a good crowd of Friends, DEC and Zoo staff and the event was covered by The Sunday Times and local paper The Echo. See the photo gallery for images of this release.

On Saturday July 31 2010, 15 captive-bred Western Swamp Tortoises were released at a site in Moore River National Park, north of Perth. In attendance was a group of 38 adults and 12 children, comprising members of the Friends group, staff from Perth Zoo, Department of Environment and Conservation, IGA supermarkets (a major Zoo sponsor) and University of WA postgraduates studying the tortoise, supervised by principal scientist Gerald Kuchling, along with Jacqui Maguire and Craig Olejnik from DEC. This was the second release in the area, with 30 animals translocated to the site last year.

The release site was accessible only by 4WD and by further walking for 10 minutes through an area of occasionally thick vegetation and—at the swamp’s edge—glutinous, clayey mud. The kids in the group loved the latter!

Originally 30 tortoises were to be released but due to lower than expected water levels, half were held back. If more rain falls the remainder will be released in a couple of weeks. Changing rainfall patterns are one of the main challenges facing these tortoises, Gerald explained.

The latest group of tortoises were all fitted with radio-transmitting devices—which made them slightly resemble remote-controlled model cars! However, the animals seemed untroubled by the small antennas glued on their shells and seemed focussed on getting into the water as quickly as possible. They will be monitored over the next few months to ensure they are all surviving and thriving before the summer aestivation period begins. It is hoped that along with the previous year’s animals these tortoises will form a new and stable population in an area distinct from the existing ones at Ellen Brook, Twin Swamps and Mogumber.

The AGM and Christmas party of the Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise was held on Saturday, 5 December 2009, and I am pleased to announce the continued commitment of the Executive Committee, who were all unanimously re-elected. Congratulations to continuing Chairperson Jan Bant, Vice-Chair Tanya Marwood and Treasurer Bob Height. We don't have a minute secretary as yet, but if you feel you could attend the meetings (bi-monthly) and take brief notes, we would be happy to welcome you to this position. Everyone is welcome at the regular meetings, which are announced to members by email.

Thanks to Bradie, tortoise keeper at the Perth Zoo, for a very informative session following the AGM. We were able to see some mature tortoises undergoing an ultrasound examination for the presence of eggs. We also looked at the incubators and the current clutches of eggs awaiting hatching.

Our events calendar for 2009 is now completed, but several of us will be working over the summer break to acquit grants, update the website and bring you the next edition of Tortoise Tales. There are some exciting activities planned for 2010, and we will be notifying you as they come up.

All the best for Christmas and the New Year.

Jan Bant

Chairperson

As we move through spring and into summer the Western Swamp Tortoises are also on the move, out of the drying swamps and into aestivation tunnels. Aestivation is a type of hibernation that occurs over summer and the tortoises use natural or artificial aestivation tunnels. Aestivation protects the tortoises from the hot Western Australian summer and any bushfires that may occur. It is also the place where eggs are laid and incubated for hatching the following winter.