News

School shell-ebrates 24 tiny arrivals

By Lua Ikenasio

Apr 15, 2026

Moama Public School’s resident broad-shelled turtles have officially emerged from their nest after hatching on Monday, April 13.

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The eggs were laid just over a year ago between the school’s staff car park and basketball court.

As turtle eggs are extremely fragile, moving them after they are laid can be fatal to the developing embryos.

Instead, the school embraced the opportunity to care for the nest, constructing a small protective enclosure and ensuring the eggs were kept safe from predators.

Maci and James Smith holding two of the 24 turtles. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

Only three or four turtles were expected to hatch from the clutch, but when Principal Melita McCartney carefully uncovered the nest, there were 24 in total.

Ms McCartney said the students had taken the turtles’ care very seriously.

“It was so surreal yesterday to keep pulling them out,” she said.

“I'm very pleased because the kids have just been so invested... when a new family would come, (students) would say this is where our turtles are, so walk around it.”

The baby turtles were about 8cm long. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

Found in deep, permanent waters along the Murray-Darling Basin, broad-shelled turtles are threatened species in Victoria, with their numbers declining due to predators such as foxes and birds.

However, they play a vital role in the ecosystem, acting as the “vacuum cleaners” of the river by feeding on dead animals and fish, helping to keep waterways clean.

The turtles were held overnight in a basket until they were released on Tuesday morning. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

Ms McCartney said in her 25 years at the school, she had seen a noticeable decline in the number of turtles emerging to lay eggs.

“We had a couple of little turtle sanctuaries... we knew that's where they always laid, and we used to get heaps probably 20 years ago,” she said.

“Now, it's maybe one or two if we're lucky.”

WIRES Murray branch volunteer Jennifer Ralph measuring the turtles. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) Murray branch volunteer Jennifer Ralph was on-site on Tuesday to help release the turtles back into the river.

The turtles measured about 8cm from nose to tail, with a 4cm shell, and weighed about 12g.

With the help of two students and Ms McCartney, a safe spot along the river was chosen to release them.

While juvenile turtles have a high mortality rate, their chances of survival increase as they age, with some living up to 100 years.

The turtles took to the water naturally. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

Ms Ralph said having the eggs on school grounds provided a valuable opportunity to teach students about caring for the environment.

“The school was very good at letting us keep the eggs here... it encourages students to take care of the environment,” she said.

“These turtles live up to 100 years old, and these buildings wouldn’t have been there (100 years ago). They’re just laying eggs where they always have.”