HELP AUSSIE ARK REWILD HUNDREDS OF TURTLES!

Help Aussie Ark rewild HUNDREDS of endangered turtles back to the wild!

We need to raise $50,000 to support our next turtle release back into the wild!

$50 feeds a turtle for a month

$100 provides veterinary care for our turtles before their journey to the wild

$300 helps build a nesting site for female turtles

$500 supports a turtle for the year before release

On the 20th of October 2022, Aussie Ark, returned 10 endangered Manning River turtles back to the wild in a world first. The program has been supported by the Australian Governments wildlife rescue and rehabilitation initiative, following the bushfire disaster of 2019/20, as well as partners the Australian Reptile Park, Re:wild and WIRES. 

The release is the first of its kind for the program established back in 2018 and is hugely significant as these particular turtles were rescued from the nest during the bushfire disaster of 2020, whilst still in the egg.  

This group is part of another milestone for the organisation as they were the first to hatch in Aussie Ark’s care. In total, 20 Manning River turtles hatched in March and April 2020 and Aussie Ark is hoping to witness the hatching of additional turtles in the coming months for this year’s breeding season. 

Prior to the release, Aussie Ark staff monitored the Manning River for many months to ensure that the body of water was substantial, clean, and flowing. Manning River turtles are restricted to the middle and upper stretches of the Manning River catchment area and are found in relatively shallow, clear, continuously fast-flowing rivers with rocky and sandy substrates. As the 2019 – 2020 bushfires left the river system with contaminated water and dried parts, it was necessary for Aussie Ark to make sure the water quality of the river was suitable for the species to live in. Food availability and suitable nesting environments were also taken into consideration. Just as the rivers seemed to have recovered La Niña swept through and washed away entire riverbanks. 

The team at Aussie Ark are thrilled to have been able to see the return of this endangered species back to wild. The greatest risk for these turtles is when they are at their most vulnerable in an egg, Aussie Ark’s program allows for the headstarting of the species. 

Aussie Ark is proud of its first wild translocation of the endangered species, but understands that more must be done. The organisation is eager to see the program develop over the coming years and expand to see the return of hundreds more endangered turtles back to the wild. 

You can help Aussie Ark release many more turtles back to the wild by assisting us to raise $50,000! Donate to Aussie Ark today!t