Saving Endangered Species: Leather Back Turtle

Leather back turtle information

The leatherback was named this due to a layer of hard rubbery skin along its back, this is supported by many bone plates. The scientific name of the turtle is a Dermochelys Coriacea. The type of species is the only one in the world, which doesn’t have a hard-shell. This can comes as a disadvantage for protection and defence. The Turtle has many distinguished features compared to other species of turtles; this includes its flexible carapace which is the fleshy shell of the turtle. The turtle has 7 ridges which run along its back. The turtle doesn’t have scales except when it is born. The leatherback turtle has large flippers which boost the turtle’s speeds in the water and help it to swim, however the turtle doesn’t have claws. The Carpace is grey or black has various white spots, the animal ranges from 4 – 6 feet and weighs from 300 – 400 kg, the turtle can live up to 45 yrs old. The habitat of the turtle is found in coastal areas in central eastern Australia this extends from the sunshine coast, New south Wales, South East Australia, Tasmania eastern South Australia and in western parts on the coast of western parts of south west Australia. The turtle has the widest distribution of all of the species of marine turtles. Most of the turtle’s habitat however is mostly focused off the Queensland and New South wales coast. The turtles are usually found in larger bays as a group, they nest on the sand of the beach from February to march., they can also be found seen in estuaries and rivers It is harder to see them out at sea as they can go up to a depth of 1280. Metres. And can stay under for up to 85minutes. The habitat has had been stable however the turtles have to re locate sometimes due to coastal developments which are implemented. This is the only pressure that they suffer or pressure.

Threats to the species

Leatherback turtles’ numbers are declining due to various pressures. The species haven’t been recorded since 1996 which shows that not enough is being done to create a stable population for the animals. Main threats that have raised is due to pollution and debris indigestion, international fisheries by catch. Climate change is also recorded to take part in the decline of the animals. Illegal egg harvesting also contributes to the decline of the species. Coastal developments also intrude and reduce the breeding grounds for the animals

Conservation measures for the turtle

Actions that are being implemented however due to nests eggs not being recorded since 1996 I believe more could be done. A recovery plan was implemented in July in 2013 the document has strategies and plans which aim to recover and save six different species of turtles, in which the Leatherback registers under.

The Leadbeater Possum Inherited its name in 1867 which was named after the Taxidermist at the Museum of Victoria, john Leadbeater. The Common name for the animal is a fairy possum. The Leadbeater is also resembled on the Australia faunal emblem. The possum spends most of its time in ash and snow gum forests and, it leaps from branch to branch, they are almost impossible to see due to this factor. The Leadbeater’s food source is provided by wattles within these forests. They take their food back to there hole within the tree. Even though they spring from tree to tree they cannot fly, The Leadbeater’s also could cover up to 204,400 hectares if they were far more highly populated. They are small in size around

The Leadbeater possum is threatened due to various pressures including habitat loss which decreases where there habitat they are in and also potential habitat, categorises that come under this which reduce there habitat include wildfires, Industrial logging forest clearing for access roads and salvage logging, if procurations aren’t embedded the possums future could be very short, this is due to their numbers estimated around 1200. There is so little left that in the 1990s They started bringing them in captivity at zoos, for example the Haysville sanctuary and the Melbourne zoo.

Conservation measures for the Leadbeater possum

Many animals suffer from habitat loss due to timber logging however the possum consumes the pulps on and within the tree, they slowly get confined more and more so Zoos in Australia such as the heasville sanctuary have begun a captive breeding program during 2012 to hopefully boost the numbers of the animal, this was made under a department of sustainability and Environment permit, however the program wasn’t entirely successful as one of the possums died from a supposedly pre – existing condition, 3 more animals were brought to the Sanctuary. However, some of the breeding was also unsuccessful as one of the males was found to have various tumours throughout his body. The program continued to bring in possums but there were more and more deaths since 2015 there still importunely has been recorded to be zero successful breeding.

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The Australian Sea lion can weigh up to 300kg when it is a large adult and grows up to 2.5 metres and 1.8 metres for females. The Sea lion has specific colours of dark brown have a light yellow main and a lighter underbody, females are usually a silver. The seals are easily differed from other seals due to their dog like snouts and small ears. The seals are located on the offshore islands such as kangaroo island, pages island etc. They feed on crab’s birds rock lobsters, small sharks fish squid octopuses and sometime birds. Minor changes in their habitat can be due to them being hunted by great white sharks. There breeding season is from January to June.

Threats to the species

As the species inhabits in water pressures such as marine debris which is the largest threat to the sea lion, other Secondary threats include habitat degration. And also aquaculture such as pollution, oil spills, and gill nets which kill many seals as they get caught in them. In 2010 a report was published which found that up to 374 Australian seals were killed. Another threat to the species which occurred in the 18th and 19th century was the sea lion being hunted for its hide and oil. However, this eventually subsided overtime.

Conservation for the seals

The sea lions have been placed in the endangered species act and the marine mammal protection act. The species is also protected under other legislations such as the Great Australian Bight marine park, the species is also protected under the National Australian legislation, these are to name a few protection measures which have been implemented. The legislations and protection aim to recover the seals population to bring them to a stable or increasing population. These protection acts assist fishing , agriculture, and tourism to advise and guide them so the species threats are reduced.

The pink Pamila is a plant that reaches 1- 2 metres. The scientific name is the Pimelea ferruginea and the common name is a rice flower. The plant is a shrub which ha s large green leaves and groups of magenta pink flowers during spring. The location of where they live can be controlled by demand for people wanting them in their gardens and new urban areas which are located near these coastal areas. The climate they grow in is warm temperate, cool temperature, and Mediterranean climates. There lifespan is Perennial, which is a plant which lives over two years. They are found in woodlands of Grey box, Eucaliptus iron bark, moluc cana. These areas where the plant is located are in the located in coastal areas in south western Australia, for example from the Nullarbor to Geraldton, which is a distance of 1,600km. The plant is also in many Australian gardens.

Threats

There are various threats that the plant faces which decrease the plants numbers. Threats to the species of plant include habitat loss, rubbish dumping and uncontrolled access through to where they are located, soil erosion, and weeds which take over the area of the plants. wildfires also have a large impact and effect the species of plant.

Conservation measures for the Pink Pamila

“An agreement has been made by the Australian National Parks and Wildlife service to protect remaining pants at the Camden Golf club are being protected and to share knowledge and advise people about being aware and protecting the Pink Pimelea Habitat so t can increase the numbers in population of the shrub.”