🐢 Perth Zoo has welcomed its first western swamp tortoise hatchling of the year, which came as part of a long-standing breeding program aimed at conserving populations of the critically endangered reptile. “The latest cohort of swampies are beginning to emerge from their eggs,” the zoo wrote on Facebook, sharing footage of the first hatchling. “Our animal carers will continue to closely monitor the eggs and hatchlings within the zoo’s behind-the-scenes specialized breeding facility. Once mature

Keeper Hollie shares some exciting news on Endangered Species Day today... we are shell-ebrating the hatching of three Western Swamp Tortoises! 🐢🐢🐢 As Australia's most endangered reptile, this is a big conservation win! Zoos SA is the only organisation outside of Western Australia working on this specialised breeding program with Perth Zoo. | Adelaide Zoo

Western Swamp Tortoise release. This critically endangered reptile had dwindled to the edge of extinction before conservation efforts to bolster their wild populations took place. To spend time in the field with Gerald Kuchling, Perth Zoo and the DBCA is something we'll never forget. Now that's WILD! | Wild Conservation

𝗛𝗼𝘄 "𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲-𝘆" 𝗮𝘄𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀! 🐢 ICYMI, earlier this month, we released 20 critically endangered western swamp tortoises fitted with radio transmitters as part of the ongoing conservation effort to boost wild populations of the species 📈 Their movement patterns will be compared to turtles already established at the site to help scientists learn how the different groups behave and how their behaviour changes as they settle into the environment. Hear from Dr Gerald Kuchli

How cute are these little turtles! 🐢💗 Our DBCA scientists based at Perth Zoo are working hard behind the scenes to breed and raise several species of critically endangered native animals for release programs around the state. Hear from Dr Harriet Mills about the western swamp tortoise breeding program and how they get the animals ready for release into the wild. | Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia

We've got some turtle-y great news to share! 🙌🐢 This World Turtle Day we're excited to announce that our Native Species Breeding Program (NSBP) has welcomed 37 Western Swamp Tortoise hatchlings this year. Watch as they swim for the very first time! And the best part? We expect this number to grow with 4 eggs still in incubators and more ground hatchlings expected! This important work is being carried out in collaboration with DBCA’s Biodiversity and Conservation Science branch. Great work team