City embraces new app to conserve turtles

Published on Thursday, 5 October 2023 at 10:27:48 AM

The City of Albany is encouraging citizen scientists and enthusiasts to contribute to the conservation of Albany’s freshwater turtle population this spring.

With nesting season approaching, the City has transitioned to the TurtleSAT app from the 1 Million Turtles Community Conservation Program.

The free, nationwide freshwater turtle sighting application is designed to enhance knowledge about freshwater turtle distributions while identifying crucial hotspots for future conservation efforts.

This move comes after the success of the City of Albany's own turtle sighting web app, which garnered 243 recorded sightings over four seasons.

The transition to TurtleSAT will introduce a new user-friendly interface and real-time data collection capabilities, empowering members of the community to actively contribute to turtle conservation.

Local Freshwater Turtle Expert Atlanta Veld said she is thrilled with the number of community members who are passionate about local freshwater turtles.

"We extend our gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the success of the City of Albany's freshwater turtle sighting web app over the years,” she said.

“Every sighting recorded through the new TurtleSAT app will contribute to our understanding of these unique creatures' behaviour, distribution, and conservation needs.

“These animals are a vital component of Australia's ecosystem and the City is taking significant steps to ensure preservation through their peak nesting period from October to November.

“We look forward to the continued support of our efforts to protect our local population."

To get involved, simply download the TurtleSAT app, available on both the Google Play and Apple App Store platforms.

Alternatively, visit the City of Albany's Public Maps webpage to access the app directly.

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