TERRAPINS IN N.Z.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29783, 28 March 1962, Page 20

TERRAPINS IN N.Z.

Imports From Australia ( N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 27. The Australian terrapin, or freshwater turtle, was “always turning up at odd intervals in Wellington,” said the director of Wellington Zoo (Mr C. J. Cutler) today. “There used to be quite a colony of them in the Hutt Valley, living in a river there. Whether they come from that colony or are being brought in by sailors from Australia, is hard to say,” he said today. Terrapins, because of their neat size and apparent ease of maintenance, appealed to numbers of people as pete. “In fact, it is cruel to keep terrapins in gardens as some Wellington people appear to do," Mr Cutler said.

“They are water creatures, and they get their food -.om water. They live on fish eggs and fish fry, and few gardens can provide them with enough food to keep them going, unless the garden includes a fair-sized pool “Most of the 20 or so terrapins which have been brought to the zoo after being found in gardens, have been very pleased to get here and get access to the food in the zoo pools. Several have been pretty close to starvation by the time we got them.

“Of course, many people do not realise they have a terrapin at the bottom of their garden," said Mr Cutler. “This last one we received was found by a dog. The dog unearthed it in the garden to the complete surprise of the owner, who had no idea how it got there. “About the time the Rimutaka tunnel was finished a few years ago, a number of terrapins appeared in a small river in the Hutt Valley,” said Mr Cutler. “It appeared that itinerant workers in the camp had had a few as pete and put them in the river when the contract finished.

“We had quite a number brought to us after being found by boys in the river. They appeared to be doing quite well there, living probably on the eggs and fry of trout and other fresh water fish.

“They are simple things to smuggle into New Zealand and it appears that anyone who wants a terrapin as a pet car, get one without much difficulty ”