How a zoo uses wetland plants to save a nearly extinct reptile
In short: The Western Swamp Tortoise was once thought to be extinct. Today, Perth Zoo is rebuilding their population using a clever, circular water system. By integrating native wetland plants into their infrastructure, scientists are not just saving a species, but also improving the local ecology through natural purification.
The Western Swamp Tortoise (Pseudemydura umbrina) is a biological rarity; it is the sole surviving member of its entire family tree. While fossil records indicate that six different species once existed, this unique reptile is the only one left. After being considered extinct for over a century, the species was rediscovered in the 1950s when a pet was brought to a naturalist club.
Rebuilding the population has required massive resource management. In the early 1980s, wild populations dwindled to an estimated 20 to 30 adults. To combat this, Perth Zoo's Science Program Leader, Dr. Peter Mawson, oversees breeding programs that have successfully released approximately 800 individuals into Western Australian habitats. This success has helped increase the wild adult population to over 120 individuals.
However, maintaining these tortoises requires an immense amount of clean, potable water—up to 50,000 litres every single day. To manage this, the zoo redesigned its infrastructure to create a closed-loop system. Water flows from the breeding program into wetland beds, trickling through gravel to reach a large lake. This water is then pumped back up through constructed wetland beds.
This continuous movement is vital for reoxygenating the water, regulating temperature, and removing nutrients. By using native wetland plants to slow down sediment and nutrients, the zoo has significantly improved onsite water quality. This improved ecology has even led to a noticeable increase in visiting waterbirds, demonstrating how species preservation can benefit an entire ecosystem.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The clever method a zoo uses to protect an endangered species | Discovery | Gardening Australia
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