Territory, Victoria, Queensland and New South
known sightings and incursions, Matthew Mo
Wales, with a number of known incursions in each of concludes his article with a discussion that also
the last three mentioned states.
contains an evaluation of possible control methods.
These are hampered by the fact that upon any
In Victoria, there have been reports of sliders in
disturbance, Red-eared Sliders instinctively swim to
Blackburn Lake since 2005, and three specimens
the bottom and bury themselves deep in the mud.
were captured up to 2013, with a similar number
Luckily, the Queensland incursions were almost
removed from Elsternwick Park Lake. Red-eared
entirely limited to small farm dams, and effective
Sliders were first
control was achieved
detected in Queensland
by draining and
in 2004, and since then
de-silting to find the
a number of populations
buried sliders. Eradica-
have been found – all
tion is more difficult in
but one in farm dams.
watercourses and high
Isolated specimens
visitation sites, which
have been found as far
suggests that natural-
afield as Bundaberg. In
ised populations in
the Sydney region there
Sydney may be much
have been sightings in a variety of locations. A
more difficult to control, although basking traps in
number of animals, including a gravid female, were particular offer some hope. Of course, it is also
caught on a golf course in Woy Woy in the 1980s.
possible that many other incursions have hitherto
The existence of a breeding population in the
gone unnoticed, but because Red-eared Sliders
Yeramba Lagoon was confirmed by the capture of
have a distinctive appearance that is quite different
six females in 1997-8, together with evidence of
to native species of freshwater turtles, it is hoped
nesting and a further four males in 2008. Three
that appeals for assistance from the public will bear
sliders were recorded basking together in Lime Kiln fruit.
Bay in September 2016, and in January of the same
year two sliders were seen in Anzac Creek. Three
It is obvious that this species has the potential to
sliders have been observed together in Hacking
very quickly develop into a major headache for NSW
River at Audley, and at least two have been
authorities in particular.
captured in the Macarthur area. Five sliders have
Reference & Further Reading:
been taken from Centennial Parklands, and there
have been at least 11 records of the species at this
location since 2009. However, this is easily trumped Matthew Mo (2018) Red-eared Sliders Trachemys
by an aggregation of 12 large sliders seen basking
scripta elegans in southern Sydney, including new
on a log in Rockdale Bicentennial Park in 2013!
incursions. Australian Zoologist In-Press.
https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2018.022
As well as compiling an invaluable synthesis of
Top left: Red-eared Sliders are often found basking in numbers
on exposed rocks or logs. Image by Elliotte Rusty Harold.
Below: their distinctive appearance is quite different to any
species of native Australian turtle. Image by Baishev .