Aaron McDonnell is dedicated to saving stranded turtles, posting “selfies” taken with animals he finds on our roads on social media to spread his conservation message.
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“They’re not endangered, but they are quickly losing their habitat,” Mr McDonnell said.
“Whenever I find a turtle I pick it up and take a selfie with it, it’s become a bit of a running joke.
“It is also serious because their homes are being destroyed by loss of habitat, foxes eat their eggs and their environment is getting dryer.”
While visiting a friend for the Eden Whale Festival, the Wagga Wagga resident came across a badly injured turtle by the side of the road, and quickly contacted the Bega Veterinary Hospital, who offered to help the animal.
It was the first animal he had come across in need of urgent medical help.
The 30-year-old, dubbed “Turtle Man” by his friends, later called the vet to discover the turtle had not survived, he thanked the animal hospital for their work, and urged motorists to stop and help wildlife in danger on our roads.
“The vet was really helpful, and wanted to get him on the mend, and keen to help out,” Mr McDonnell said.
During a drive between Canberra and Sydney, he came across over a dozen hit and killed on one stretch of freeway.
“I called the RMS and told them they should consider putting up signs for motorists, or even a pipe beneath the road as a corridor,” he said.
“Their answer to me was that turtles don’t damage cars, animals like emus and kangaroos do.
“I wrote back saying it was a cop out excuse, just because they don’t cause damage to cars because there’s lots of turtles in the area.
“The big joke at work was that I got the RMS response on World Turtle Day,’ he said with a laugh.
World Turtle Day falls on May 23 each year, and raises awareness on the environmental and human pressures facing both saltwater and fresh water turtle populations across the planet.
As a tip, Mr McDonnell said anyone coming across a turtle on a road should place the animal on the side of the road they are facing, as they may again attempt to cross the same road.