Three young Eastern long necked turtles were handed to the Australian Reptile Park after they were found locked inside a toolbox drawer on a roadside council pick up.
The toolbox draw was locked from the outside indicating an intention to dump the innocent turtles who were once somebodies pet. “This is a cowardly act by someone who no longer wanted to care for their pet turtles,” said Mr Billy Collett, head of reptiles at the Australian Reptile Park.
“I can tell that the three Eastern long-necked turtles were pets and lived in a tank, as their finger nails are long, so they haven’t walked along hard surfaces, and they’re very clean with no mould on their shells, which usually develops when living in their native habitat of lakes, dams, creeks and waterways.
“The Australian Reptile Park will care for the turtles which are very underweight and include them in our daily reptile shows on education. “One of the key points about the park’s education is that animals are a commitment, especially captive animals, they’re not for momentarily pleasure to then be dumped when the interest has gone,” he said.
The Eastern long-necked turtle is native to Australia and also referred to as a snakenecked turtle. Their shell will eventually grow to around 25cm in length, with its neck almost the same length.
The upper shell or carapace can vary in colour from light reddish-brown to almost black, while the lower shell or plastron is usually creamy-yellow, sometimes with other dark brown markings. The feet have strong claws and are webbed for swimming.
Media release,
Sep 7, 2015
Lizzy Doyle, Australian
Reptile Park