Georges Hall runner Bill Thom spotted what he thought was one and that has now been confirmed by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) who have received 36 confirmed reports in the Sydney basin this year.
The turtles are listed globally as one of the world’s worst akin to the cane toad, fox and the myna bird for its ability to devastate native eco-systems.
Smuggled into and illegally released in Australia, the non-native pest carries diseases and parasites that have a negative impact on the environment and native turtles.
“The number of reports received by NSW DPI increases this time of the year due to the increased activity of reptiles in warm weather,” a DPI spokesperson said.
“We encourage people to report any suspected sightings. Take a photo, note the location and report via the Report, a biosecurity risk form on the NSW DPI website, phone 1800 680 244 or email to invasive.species@dpi.nsw.gov.au.”
Mr Thom, a daily jogger who first contacted the DPI in 2012 regarding a previous sighting, says he has seen many unusual animals on the shores of Lake Gillawarna including an echidna, giant goldfish and over one-metre-long Carp.
“They got rid of the Carp which are terrible as they eat all of the smaller fish and undermine the banks through their mud-digging, but I have noticed they are back too,” he said.
“The turtles are scary as they breed so quickly, laying two to 30 eggs, five times a year. They can also be aggressive and that’s why people let them go.”
One of world’s worst invaders back in local waterways alert
IT’S been nine years since the last sighting but now one of the world’s worst invaders – the Red-Eared Slider Turtle – has returned to Lake Gillawarna.