Town Saves the Threatened Bum-Breathing Punk Turtle–a 9lb Wonder Found Only in the Mary River

[Michie]

The Mary River turtle – credit Marilyn Connell, the Mary River Turtle Project/Tiaro Land Care

Australia is filled with wild and wonderful critters, but few surpass the novelty of the Mary River turtle—which was once one of the continent’s most endangered.

Now however, the dedication of 800 residents in the town of Tiaro is seeing the turtle repopulate the river from which it draws its name, a point of pride for the locals, and the nation as they both celebrate a conservation win.

The Mary River turtle, (Elusor macrusus) is also known fondly as the “Bum-breathing punk” for its peculiar evolutionary capacity to breathe through its cloaca which allows it to stay underwater for three days without surfacing.

Continued below.

Town Saves the Threatened Bum-Breathing Punk Turtle–a 9lb Wonder Found Only in the Mary River

This turtle, with green hair and a 'unique' way of getting oxygen, is seeing thousands of hatchlings survive every year because of Tiaro.

www.goodnewsnetwork.org

 

[AlexB23]

The Mary River turtle – credit Marilyn Connell, the Mary River Turtle Project/Tiaro Land Care

Australia is filled with wild and wonderful critters, but few surpass the novelty of the Mary River turtle—which was once one of the continent’s most endangered.

Now however, the dedication of 800 residents in the town of Tiaro is seeing the turtle repopulate the river from which it draws its name, a point of pride for the locals, and the nation as they both celebrate a conservation win.

The Mary River turtle, (Elusor macrusus) is also known fondly as the “Bum-breathing punk” for its peculiar evolutionary capacity to breathe through its cloaca which allows it to stay underwater for three days without surfacing.

Continued below.

Town Saves the Threatened Bum-Breathing Punk Turtle–a 9lb Wonder Found Only in the Mary River

This turtle, with green hair and a 'unique' way of getting oxygen, is seeing thousands of hatchlings survive every year because of Tiaro.

www.goodnewsnetwork.org

Cool name for a turtle. I am glad that the species is getting saved.