Seventeen baby Mary River turtles have been added to the Mary River ecosystem after the clutch was exhumed and nurtured late last year.
With permission from the State Government, the clutch of eggs was relocated to an approved enclosure which is managed by Tairo Landcare.
This allowed the rare turtled their best chance of survival through their incubation period.
Gympie Regional Council Environment and Lands Protection officers, along with Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC) assisted Tiaro and District Landcare in the discovery and monitoring of the first recorded clutch.
MRCCC officer Brad Wedlock said this particular turtle has a very historic past.
“The endangered Mary River Turtle is only found in the Mary River and comes from a very ancient lineage of freshwater turtles.
“In 2020 the Zoological Society of London assessed the turtle as the 29th most endangered reptile in the world and placed it on their globally endangered list. It is estimated over the past 50 years the turtle’s population has decreased by 95%.
“Good water quality in the Mary River is crucial for the survival of the Mary River Turtle. Landholders on the Mary River have been actively restoring their riverbanks to help improve water quality, which in turn will help the plight of the Mary River Turtle,“ Mr Wedlock said.
Council said the nest site was monitored and protected for 21 days before it was noted that a dog had disturbed the nest, that mixed with the impending threat of rising water levels, the organisations made the proactive decision to relocate them to safety.
The baby turtled hatched after 56 days and weighed only 6.43 grams.
Mary River Turtles are an endangered species, it takes on average a female turtle 25 years to reach adulthood while it takes male turtles 30 years to reach maturity.
