June 2015 HERPUTOPIA NEWS REPTILE RAMBLINGS. Committee Members. Promoting the care and enjoyment of reptiles and amphibians through education.

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June 2015 HERPUTOPIA NEWS Promoting the care and enjoyment of reptiles and amphibians through education. REPTILE RAMBLINGS by Aaron Baker. www.illawarrareptilesociety.com.

1 June 2015 HERPUTOPIA NEWS Promoting the care and enjoyment of reptiles and amphibians through education. REPTILE RAMBLINGS by Aaron Baker. A massive thanks to Colin South for coming along and speaking about the issue facing the Georges or Belingely river turtle. Roughly 315 of these have sadly been found dead and many have been found in final stages carrying symptoms of this still unknown disease which has taken hold on this particular turtle. Colin was part of the initial investigative team on location in Qld along with locals and NPWS representatives. A very tragic event happening to one of our beautiful native animals, definitely a topic to keep an eye on. As a side note if your ever walking through the bush or as long a river and see any native wildlife that in some way doesn't look right or isn t known to be in that area contact NPWS or appropriate people and notify them ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE for a species simply by notifying the right people. A huge thanks to everyone who came along and helped out at this year s show once again the day was a great success as always many happy faces. Was a great day to catch up with old friends meet new ones, and just have fun. But it s not possible without all the volunteers so from myself and all the committee a massive thank you. Don t forget our AGM is next month so if you d like to put your hand up for a spot on the committee come along and fill a form out remember you must be a financial member to do so. We also have Simone Reeves speaking on Geckos which should be a very interesting talk as Simone is a very seasoned reptile keeper having kept and bred many species of reptiles, a night not to be missed. Until next time guys, happy herping. Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month at 6.30pm at Fairy Meadow Community Centre, Guest Park, cnr Princes Hwy and Cambridge Ave, Fairy Meadow (opposite Woolworths) LUCKY DOOR PRIZE at each meeting! Sausage Sizzle $2.00; Drinks $1.00; FREE tea and coffee For enquires, contact PO Box 183 Albion Park NSW 2527 Committee Members President: Aaron Baker Secretary: Treasurer: Jo Payne Nina Markwell Newsletter Editor: Tina Gray Committee Members: Kathy Hicks; Stevie Leigh-Fuller; Rhiannon Clarke. Page 1 of 7

New Members We are excited to welcome the following people who have recently become members of the Illawarra Reptile Society: Sara Van Ryn, Matti Sutiner, Ashley Clarke, Morris

2 Dates for your diary June 1 Illawarra Reptile Society meeting at Fairy Meadow Community Centre. 6.30pm start. Special guest: Simone Reeves. Come along to our June meeting to listen to Simone talk about geckos. New Members We are excited to welcome the following people who have recently become members of the Illawarra Reptile Society: Sara Van Ryn, Matti Sutiner, Ashley Clarke, Morris family, Paul Jacques HAINES GLASS - DAPTO 298 Princes Highway, Dapto PHONE FAX MOBILE COVERING THE SOUTH COAST FOR ALL YOUR GLASS REQUIREMENTS GLASS FOR REPTILE CABINETS A SPECIALTY.*Domestic Specialists *Laminated Glass *Table Tops Shower Screens. Framed Mirrors. Rear view Mirrors Page 2 of 7

This happened last month By Garth Rankin It s time to fight for the Bellinger River Turtle (Elseya georgesi) Colin South s impassioned story of the plight of the Bellinger River turtle at our recent

3 This happened last month By Garth Rankin It s time to fight for the Bellinger River Turtle (Elseya georgesi) Colin South s impassioned story of the plight of the Bellinger River turtle at our recent meeting touched all those who were there. With graphic photos of blind turtles with their eyes eaten away by an insidious unknown pathogen, this turtle with a population of possible 1,000 is obviously in dire straits with extinction possible. It seems that most of the Bellinger River is infected and roughly half the turtles dead or dying. I was immediately reminded of the Western Swap turtle of WA which also got down to critically low numbers and was brought back from the brink of extinction by a dedicated breeding program. Let s all rally now for their challenge ahead. The following is an article that I posted in Herpetopia (IRS newsletter July 2008). :: Western Swamp Turtle (Pseudemydura Umbrina) Friends of the Western Swamp turtle recently released 25 captive bred juvenile turtles into the wild at Mogumber Nature Reserve in WA. The Perth Zoo released the turtles. They were transported to the site and it seemed as soon as they smelt the water, their arms and legs started waving as they struggled to escape from our hands into the swamp. For such small animals, most were less than 12cm long. They exhibited strong muscles and an overwhelming desire to swim. The Western Swamp turtle is the most endangered turtle in the world. It is listed as the most critically endangered by the Australian Government and there are less than 50 adult turtles in the wild. They are only found at 3 sites. Ellen Brook, Twin Swamps and Mogumber Nature Reserve. They require a very specific type of swamp, with clay and sand bottoms that hold water for a short time each year. Credit : Jan Bant, Newsletter of the Threatened Species Network. Page 3 of 7

4 In the news Huge boa constrictor found skulking in Seaford shed A DEADLY 2.6m red-tailed boa constrictor that tipped the scales at a hefty 8kg has been found lurking around in a Melbourne seaside suburb. Authorities suspect the exotic reptile, native to Central and South America, was a much-loved illegal pet that had escaped or had been dumped by its owner as it had become too big. Snake catcher Barry Goldsmith said the female boa was the first of its kind he had caught in his 40 years in the job. Terrified council workers called Mr Goldsmith after they came across the snake inside a disused shed on Old Wells Rd in Seaford about 11.30am on Monday. She is definitely a beauty, Mr Goldsmith said. I ve got a feeling it has escaped and is a very muchloved pet as it was a very healthy snake. It s too fat, healthy and friendly to have been in the wild for a long period of time. He said boas known to squeeze their prey to death with powerful coils before consuming the meal whole were popular as pets on the black market. Back 40 years ago these guys were being smuggled in to the country, but that doesn t happen as much these days. Now they are illegally being bred in Victoria, he said. The temperament of them is just so sweet and gentle. They are easy to breed and sell as they have live young instead of eggs like our pythons. But he said they were a powerful snake with the capability of strangling an adult to death. The large predatory snake also posed a threat to other reptiles and even domestic pets, he said. Page 4 of 7

A photo Mr Goldsmith posted of the boa s capture on social media raised the hair on the necks of locals with many commenting about its sheer size and how it was too close to home.

Mr Goldsmith is governed to hand the foreign species over to the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, who said once it completed an investigation into where the boa came from, it would

5 A photo Mr Goldsmith posted of the boa s capture on social media raised the hair on the necks of locals with many commenting about its sheer size and how it was too close to home. Angered snake lovers also came to the boa s defense on hearing the government planned to kill it, calling on them to instead rehome it at a reptile park or zoo. Mr Goldsmith is governed to hand the foreign species over to the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, who said once it completed an investigation into where the boa came from, it would be humanely euthanized. Mr Goldsmith said while it breaks his heart to see such a beautiful boa be put to sleep, he agreed it was the right thing to do to protect Australia s native wildlife. The people to blame here are those who are breeding them and selling them on the black market, he said. DELWP Compliance Support Group operations manager Glenn Sharp said the illegal keeping and trading of boa constrictors threatens our biodiversity and agriculture. Boa constrictors are a controlled pest animal in Victoria as they can spread potentially devastating diseases to our native wildlife, Mr Sharp said. They can carry a virus called Inclusion Body Disease, which is fatal to native Australian pythons because they have no resistance to it. Because of the potential diseases this boa could be carrying, it will be humanely euthanized once our investigation is completed. DELWP has launched an investigation to find where the snake came from. Anyone found to be possessing or trading in prohibited wildlife from overseas could face fines of up to $57,000 under Victorian law. If you know anything about the boa or suspect illegal reptile possession and trading, call If you find an unwanted snake on your property, call Mr Goldsmith on Credit: heraldsun.com.au Page 5 of 7

tree frog Craig - 0420483338 Caramel zebra $1800 Jake - 0404044241 Mertens monitors Matt - 0421055772 -

6 Classifieds - Bearded dragons; red hypos; het hypos; hypo leatherbacks; het hypo leatherbacks. Brad Northern Velvet Gecko, female Frances Longneck turtle hatchlings; green tree frog Craig Caramel zebra $1800 Jake Mertens monitors Matt Longneck turtles WANTED mature Kreffts female Bob Blue Tongue lizard food Kieren Page 6 of 7

7 NOMINATION FORM for Illawarra Reptile Society Inc. COMMITTEE POSITIONS NOMINATION I,, being a current financial member of IRS Inc hereby (print your name) nominate (print name of person you wish to nominate) for the position of (committee position) Signature Dated SECONDED BY I,, being a current financial member of IRS Inc hereby (print your name) second the nomination Signature Dated ACCEPTANCE I,, being a current financial member of IRS Inc hereby (print your name) accept the nomination Signature Dated Please post this completed form to IRS PO Box 183, Albion Park NSW 2527 or present it to the secretary before the AGM meeting. Please note that the secretary must receive all completed and duely signed nominations before the AGM to be a valid nomination. One membership, One vote. NB :committee positions are those at the header of this newsletter. Page 7 of 7

March 2017 HERPUTOPIA NEWS REPTILE RAMBLINGS. IRS Committee. Promoting the care and enjoyment of reptiles and amphibians through education.

March 2017 HERPUTOPIA NEWS REPTILE RAMBLINGS. IRS Committee. Promoting the care and enjoyment of reptiles and amphibians through education. March 2017 HERPUTOPIA NEWS Promoting the care and enjoyment of reptiles and amphibians through education. www.illawarrareptilesociety.com.au www.facebook.com/groups/262254127185488 REPTILE RAMBLINGS by