FOWST News - Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise

17 Jun

50th anniversary of monitoring the tortoise

On October 2, 2013 a large group of supporters of the Western Swamp Tortoise gathered at Ellen Brook Nature Reserve to celebrate 50 years of scientific monitoring of the species. It was on October 2, 1963 that a BSc Honours student, Andrew Burbidge, marked and released female Number 4, then…

13 Jul

Winter 2013 planting at Ellen Brook NR

The Friends (and friends of Friends!) recently planted around 1300 tube-stock of various species on bare land previously infested with weeds, near the western gate of Ellen Brook Nature Reserve. Check out the photo galleries for pictures! The campaign happened in two stages in June and July 2013 and also…

02 May

Talk at WA Naturalists' Club

UWA PhD candidate Sophie Arnall came to speak about her research on assisted colonisation of the Western Swamp Tortoise, at the Darling Range Branch of the WA Naturalists' Club in April 2013. Below is a summary of her excellent and informative presentation. See 'Links' page for more information on her…

18 Apr

ABC TV coverage of WST research

Check out ABC TV's 7.30 Report coverage of the research being done to help find new habitat for the Western Swamp Tortoise. (If the link below doesn't work, just copy and paste into your browser's window)

29 Oct

New funding for Friends

The Friends group will receive $25 000 over the next three years to help it promote awareness and conservation of the WST. We congratulate the Department of Environment and Conservation, which has received state government funding of $500 000 over the next three years for Western Swamp Tortoise programs. It…

31 Jul

Latest release at Twin Swamps

It was a sunny winter's day when 30 young captive bred tortoises were released at Twin Swamps Nature Reserve on July 28, 2012. Gerald Kuchling (chief research scientist) along with staff from the zoo and DEC, plus many Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise gathered to wish the little animals,…

03 May

Margaret River Choc launches ‘Swampy’

The Margaret River Chocolate Company has joined with Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise to help save Australia’s most critically endangered reptile. The official launch of a special chocolate tortoise called ‘Swampy’ was held at on March 19, 2012 at their Swan Valley factory in West Swan Road. Part proceeds…

15 Aug

Twin Swamps and Moore River releases

On July 22 2011, DEC and the Perth Zoo released 30 captive-bred young tortoises between 2 and 7 years of age at Moore River National Park, site of last year’s release. Around half had radio-tracking devices attached to the shell. This year's event was not open to members of the…

06 Aug

Second release at Moore River

On Saturday July 31 2010, 15 captive-bred Western Swamp Tortoises were released at a site in Moore River National Park, north of Perth. In attendance was a group of 38 adults and 12 children, comprising members of the Friends group, staff from Perth Zoo, Department of Environment and Conservation, IGA…

15 Dec

Year's events conclude

The AGM and Christmas party of the Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise was held on Saturday, 5 December 2009, and I am pleased to announce the continued commitment of the Executive Committee, who were all unanimously re-elected. Congratulations to continuing Chairperson Jan Bant, Vice-Chair Tanya Marwood and Treasurer Bob…