A survey of the Little River system has found one adult male snake-necked turtle in an area where three were found 10 years ago.

The find offers hope for threatened South-Western snake-necked turtle population in the habitat after no turtles have been seen there in 10 years.

The Shire of Denmark in partnership with Murdoch University funded the one-day survey as part of the Save Our Snake-Necked Turtles project.

Shire sustainability officer Yvette Caruso said it was exciting to confirm a presence of the species in the area after many years of concern.

Despite increased urbanisation in the area, combined with fluctuating water levels of the Wilson Inlet and varying salinity, the local population of the threatened species was persevering.

This was a positive sign of the health of the river system’s biodiversity despite the challenges it faced.

A citizen-science initiative also allowed participants to engage with the latest turtle research by contributing to the TurtleSAT app, a tool for informing future conservation strategies.

This project aligns with the Shire’s Our Future 2033 Strategic Community Plan, particularly under the priority of environmental conservation and protection.

It was a commitment to safeguard natural reserves, national parks, coastline, flora and fauna.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 1 August 2024.