Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) were recently notified by a visitor to K’gari of a freshwater turtle that had nested in the middle of one of the roads, putting the eggs at risk from vehicles driving over them.

QPWS staff attended the site and found that the visitors had laid branches across the roadway to divert passing traffic through a nearby passing bay and had written in the sand to alert motorists of the turtle nest.

Before excavating the nest, a suitable site for relocation was found nearby and prepared – fallen leaf litter scraped back etc. The nest was then located and carefully exposed. Measurements were taken of the nest and 7 eggs were carefully removed and placed into a container of sand for their move. Using the measurements collected a hole was dug as close to possible as the original nest and the eggs were placed in and slowly covered with sand.

Three different species of freshwater turtles have been found on K’gari and incubation of eggs ranges from 60 days to 230 days depending on the species. Without a species identification, and given the eggs were laid in winter (out of season), we believe the incubation will be towards the higher end of the range.

Given that turtle eggs, both freshwater and marine, are a favoured food source of other animals such as wongari (dingoes) and lace monitors, successful hatching is not guaranteed however these turtles have a better chance now they don’t also have to worry about being run over by vehicles.

K’gari (Fraser Island) Reptiles, Frogs & Freshwater Fish species list can be found here: Reptiles, frogs and freshwater fish (K’gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage Area

Article contributed by Jenna Tapply, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service