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Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson

Emeritus Professor of Zoology at University of Sydney specializing in freshwater turtle biology and conservation in Australia

May 29, 2026

Ultramarine: the science of our oceans and waterways

Ultramarine: the science of our oceans and waterways

‘Remarkable’ freshwater turtles face quiet decline

May 29 · 32m

David BaldermanHOST
8:46
How serious is this decline, and how significant is it over a- an amount of time?
Michael Thompson
Michael ThompsonGUEST
8:50
The decline, at least of some species, is really serious.
Michael Thompson
Michael ThompsonGUEST
8:55
And just to follow on from what Van said, in 1905, South Australia introduced a bounty on the heads of freshwater turtles.
Michael Thompson
Michael ThompsonGUEST
9:04
In the first two years, 58,667 turtle heads were handed in.
Michael Thompson
Michael ThompsonGUEST
9:11
It was a penny a, penny a head.
Michael Thompson
Michael ThompsonGUEST
9:13
Uh, what, what, uh, happened after those two years, I'm not sure.
Michael Thompson
Michael ThompsonGUEST
9:17
I haven't investigated that yet.

9 MINS LATER

David BaldermanHOST
17:50
All right, Michael, let's build on that, uh, life cycle then, and what makes turtles so vulnerable compared to other species?

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