Telephone: +61 8 9405 5128; Facsimile +61 8 9306 1066; Email: jillp@calm.wa.gov.au
The Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management publishes Wildlife Management Programs to provide detailed information and management actions for the conservation of threatened species of flora and fauna or of ecological communities, as well as harvested species of flora and fauna. This Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Plan is the 3rd edition of Wildlife Management Program No. 11, published in 1994, which in turn was based on Wildlife Management Program No. 6, published in 1990. The 2nd edition covered work from January 1998 to December 2002.
FOREWORD 5
SUMMARY 8
1. INTRODUCTION 10
1.1 Description and history of species 10
1.2 Distribution and abundance 10
1.2.1 Distribution 10
1.2.2 Population estimates 11
1.2.3 Habitat critical to the survival of the species 11
1.2.4 Important populations 12
1.3 Life history and ecological relationships 13
1.5 Reasons for threatened status 19
1.5.1 Geographic range and habitat 19
1.5.2 Biology 19
1.5.3 Effects of drought 20
1.5.4 Exotic predators 20
1.6 Existing conservation measures 20
1.6.1 Conservation status 20
1.6.2 Creation of nature reserves 20
1.6.3 Extension of nature reserves 20
1.6.4 Ecological studies 21
1.6.5 Management of nature reserves 21
1.6.6 Captive breeding 24
1.6.7 Genetic management 25
1.6.8 Translocations 26
1.6.9 Management Program, Recovery Plan and Recovery Team 26
1.7 Strategy for recovery 27
2. RECOVERY OBJECTIVE AND CRITERIA 27
2.1 Objective 27
2.2 Criteria 28
3. RELATED MATTERS 28
3.1 International obligations 28
3.2 Affected interests 29
3.3 Indigenous people 29
3.4 Benefits to other species and ecological communities 29
3.5 Social and economic impacts 30
4. GUIDE FOR DECISION-MAKERS 30
5. RECOVERY ACTIONS 30
5.1 Employment of Chief Investigator 30
5.2 Management of Ellen Brook, Twin Swamps and MOGUMBER Nature Reserves 31
5.2.1 Management of Ellen Brook Nature Reserve 31
5.2.2 Management of Twin Swamps Nature Reserve 32
5.2.3 Management of Mogumber Nature Reserve 34
5.2.4 Monitoring of water depths and water chemistry 34
5.3 TORTOISE POPULATION MONITORING 36
5.4 Captive breeding 36
5.4.1 Existing captive breeding colony 36
5.4.2 Establishment of additional captive colonies 36
5.5 Translocations 37
5.5.1 Re-introduction to Twin Swamps Nature Reserve and to Mogumber 37
5.5.2 Translocation to additional sites 38
5.6 Education, publicity and sponsorship 41
5.6.1 Education and publicity 41
5.6.2 Sponsorships 41
EVALUATION 42
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 42
REFERENCES 42
GLOSSARY 47
ADDENDUM 49