Lake Iralalaro, Nino Konis National Park, Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste
Our Timor-Leste project is a partnership between Charles Darwin University, Timor-Leste Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Department of Education.
Boy from Mehara holding aTimor-Leste long-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi timorlestensis)
Projetu Lenuk Lorosa'e
The Long-necked turtle Chelodina mccordi is critically endangered under the IUCN red list criteria. The Timor-Leste subspecies (Chelodina mccordi timorensis) is restricted to a small area of lacustrine habitat near the eastern tip of Timor in the Lake Iralalaro, Lautém District. This Project collected vital information about the biology and harvest of this unique long-necked turtle and the threats it is facing for future research and management actions. We also produced educational materials including a primary school book which has been endorsed by the Timor-Leste Department of Education and is now part of the 6th grade national curriculum. This project was funded by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Turtle Conservation Fund and Andrew Sabin Family Foundation.