When Taungrurung Baan Ganalina (Guardians of Water) expressed interest in creating a turtle yilam (home), Horseshoe Lagoon immediately came to mind. It is a wetland that holds significant cultural importance to the Taungurung people and has been receiving environmental water from the nearby Waring (Goulburn River) over the last few years to eradicate weeds and improve the health of the wetlands.

Ongoing efforts to care for Horseshoe Lagoon by the Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) and Baan Ganalina in partnership with Goulburn Broken CMA and Parks Victoria has seen the return of all three inland species of turtle to the site—the Eastern Long-necked, Murray Turtle, and Broad-shelled Turtle. To encourage turtle breeding, TLaWC, Taungurung Park Rangers, Biik Environmental and Baan Ganalina, with support from Turtles Australia Inc, crew, initiated a project to construct floating habitat islands to safeguard turtle eggs from predators, especially foxes. While herons, crows, snakes and rakali pose a threat, it is the foxes that are particularly notorious for raiding nests just hours after the eggs are laid. Since the turtle island was established in November, it was only a matter of days before the turtles were observed and photographed using their new yilam. A remote trail camera on the island provides clear imagery of the turtles nesting. Although we know foxes are capable swimmers, they haven’t shown much interest in Turtle Island so far.

This is a great example of working together to look after important species. More turtle protection works and yilam installations are planned for the next 12 months to ensure the three inland turtle species have the best opportunity to survive and thrive.

The turtle island project is supported by the Victorian Government’s Icon Species Program 2023-2025.