Conservation biology of the pig-nosed turtle, Carettochelys insculpta

A. Georges and M. Rose
Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 1, 1, 1-12,

Carettochelys insculpta is the sole surviving member of the Carettochelyidae, a family of turtles widely distributed during the Territory. It is restricted to the southern rivers of New Guinea and the major rivers of the Northern Territory in Australia. Carettochelys is a distinctive geographic and taxonomic relict and, although locally abundant, it is rare in the sense of being geographically restricted. In Australia, feral water buffalo pose a major threat through the trampling of nesting banks and widespread destruction of the riparian vegetation upon which the turtles depend. Other potential pressures include aggressive pastoral and agricultural practices that push the land beyond capacity in the important catchments, with resulting erosion and siltation of water courses. Mining activity in sensitive areas, such as Kakadu National Park, may also pose a threat unless strict controls are applied on containment of mine waste, fishing activities of the mine staff, draw-down of the water table, and routes taken in the transport of chemicals used for extraction of minerals.
http://aerg.canberra.edu.au/cgi-bin/pubs_archive.cgi?target=G