Description: Western Swamp Tortoises have a brown or black shell, a short neck covered with tuberacles (knobbles) and webbed toes with five claws on each foot.

Diet: Western Swamp Tortoises are carnivores and eat small invertebrates.

In the wild: Western Swamp Tortoises live in swamps that only fill during the winter and spring. While the swamps contain water, the tortoises swim around and feed on small aquatic invertebrates, tadpoles and frogs. When the swamps are dry they aestivate (summer equivalent of hibernation) in holes in the ground or under deep leaf litter.

Threats: The Western Swamp Tortoise is the one of the most endangered Australian reptiles. With limited numbers and habitat remaining they are very vulnerable to any changes including land clearing for housing and agriculture, use of pesticides and fertilisers and fire. Climate change also poses a potential threat. Perth has recently experienced drier winters. If swamps dry too early, females may not produce eggs. Feral predators like cats, rats and foxes also eat tortoises and tortoise eggs.

Saving Wildlife Together: Since 1989, Perth Zoo has bred more than 1300 Western Swamp Tortoises of which 1125 have been released to boost their numbers in the wild (figures as at June 2024). Help us continue our work to save the Western Swamp Tortoise. By breeding these little guys for release, we're able to boost their numbers in the wild into areas protected by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Find out how you can help.

At Perth Zoo: The Western Swamp Tortoise exhibit is in the Australian Wetlands.