Turtle Tally
Fascinating Fact
TURTLE TALLY
FASCINATING FACT
UK Competition - Over £100 up for grabs!
Bearded Dragons and Atadenovirus
Agamid Atadenovirus-1 (BDAdV-1) is often discussed as a life-threatening and very serious disease. It is a type of Adenovirus and causes diarrhoea, lethargy and weight loss in many species and has been attributed to the death of a whole range of captive reptiles. In the latter stages, it presents in the form of physical stretching of the head upwards (stargazing) and can cause animals to flip onto their backs, possibly due to neurological damage. Veterinarians have been concerned with this illness for some time, but emerging research is beginning to de-bunk the causes of this disease in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).
Summer is almost upon us and as the weather starts to warm up, reptiles are becoming much more active. As well as our native reptile species, non-native turtles are now being spotted across the UK and researchers are calling on members of the public to support vital monitoring programmes. Turtle Tally UK was established in 2018 to help document the introduced turtle species that inhabit the UK’s waterbodies. As a Citizen Science Project, the initiative asks members of the public to support research by providing details of turtle sightings across the country. This data is crucial in tracking introduced species and understanding the welfare concerns and potential ecological impact of non-native turtles. Led by Suzie Simpson, HE Programme Leader and Animal Management Lecturer at Hadlow College and in conjunction with the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, the scheme aims to assess the invasiveness of non-native turtles and how the release or escape of captive animals affects welfare. Previously, Turtle Tally was a monitoring programme which last year recorded 225 sightings, including 12 from anglers across the UK. Expected hotspot areas include London, Manchester, Liverpool and Cardiff. Naturally, these urbanised areas will see a higher footfall of people reporting sightings but could also represent greater numbers of escaped pets. Data is also limited in the West Country and Scotland citizens from these regions are encouraged even more so, to report their sightings. The most commonly spotted turtles and terrapins are the red-eared and yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys sp.) due to their bold basking behaviours. However, more cryptic species such as common musk turtles (Sternotherus odoratus) and soft shells (Pelodiscus sinensis) have been spotted in the past. Since its inception, Turtle Tally has been solely focused on monitoring and data collection. “This year, a very small number of non-native turtles will be removed to receive a health screening” explained Suzie Simpson, Project Lead for the Turtle Tally. “We will be screening to assess whether these turtles harbour any diseases or parasites as well as check the overall body condition of the animal. This information will then be compared with captive turtles to understand the impact and potential detriment of releasing these animals into the wild. Turtles that have been removed and checked will then be rehomed into dedicated turtle sanctuaries. Citizens are encouraged not to remove the turtles themselves. Suzie continued: “There are many myths around turtles and terrapins in the UK, often associated with their impact
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on waterfowl. So far, of the turtles we have assessed, we have not noticed any signs of aggression towards birds or their eggs. In the case of grebes (Podiceps cristatus), it is possible that when a turtle pulls itself onto a basking site, it might cause the mother to leave the nest, but we need to understand more about this with further research.” “Terrapins such as red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta) are invasive globally. Their main impact is on native turtles, which is not an issue in the UK. The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) was native in the UK some 9000 years ago, but since its extinction there are currently no native turtles in the UK.”
Firstly, it is important to note that this disease is extremely contagious and thus any instance of Adenovirus within a captive collection should be treated with the utmost severity. It is spread through faecal matter and the impact of the disease in other species is unknown. However, field research conducted on over 100 Central bearded dragons in New South Wales found that Atadenovirus is widespread and presents no ill effects in wild dragons. Furthermore, the disease is also widespread in wild Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) suggesting that both genera have evolved to live with this strain of Adenovirus since their ancestral split millions of years ago.
Similar observations have been made of Iridovirus in wild bearded dragons, with many individuals living happily with the disease. Male specimens that tested positive actually presented as ‘healthier’ than the others based on their robustness and weight. This suggests that the symptoms we observe in captivity could arise from subpar husbandry as opposed to a new wave of lizard pandemics. Naturally, veterinarians will be exposed solely to captive animals and screen only those that show signs of ill-health. It is therefore vitally important that keepers practise good biosecurity and prevent issues with correct care. If an animal is already showing symptoms of poor health, it is important to take them to an exotics vet immediately.
Members of the public should record the following details before submitting the vital observation record to www. turtletally.co.uk Date, time, location (what3words, grid reference or address with description) and number of turtles seen. It is important to send a photo if possible, to aid identification. Although it is likely that non-native turtles have a reasonably low ecological impact, the welfare of these released animals is paramount. Citizens who report their sightings will be helping to protect local ecosystems as well as the general wellbeing of these much-loved turtles. As such, Exotics Keeper Magazine will be running a competition throughout the year to encourage citizens to get on board with the Turtle Tally. As most sightings tend to halt in October, those who report a sighting to turtletallyuk@gmail.com (www. turtletally.co.uk) and share proof (via screenshot, or sighting details) to hello@exoticskeeper.com between now and October will be entered into a draw to win a prize bundle tailored specifically for their pets or interests, worth over £100. Entries will be collated through summer and a winner will be announced later in the year. APRIL 2022
APRIL 2022
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