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The Jardine River
Turtle Project
Jardine River turtles (Emydura subglobosa subglobosa) are listed as critically endangered in Australia and have thus far only been found in 7 small and discrete waterbodies, all of which are located along the Jardine River floodplain on the Apudthama landscape.
This species is totemic and is as such culturally significant for the Angkamuthi people who have inhabited this part of Apudthama for 60,000 years.
However, without immediate research, and subsequent results-based intervention, this species is at risk of extinction.
Together with the local Apudthama Land and Sea Rangers, and the Angkamuthi Custodians, we are:
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Clarifying the current status of this species in Australia by conducting mark-recapture analysis to determine the size, structure, distribution, and dynamics of this population.
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Developing an eDNA assay to allow the rapid detection of this species in water samples collected from waterbodies across Apudthama.
We are also:
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Using radiotelemetry to track turtles over the next 2 years to understand their spatial ecology and seasonal movement patterns.
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Conducting extensive camera trapping to determine impacts of predation on this species.
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Evaluating biotic and abiotic habitat characteristics to determine why Jardine River turtles select for particular waterbodies, and predict the probability of turtle presence in unexamined waterbodies to inform subsequent effort and sampling and management.
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