Dr Gerald Kuchling

In the 1970s, Gerald had his first experience with the western swamp turtle Pseudemydura umbrina, when examining its type specimen which was collected in 1839. After a PhD on the control of reproduction of Hermann’s tortoise and turtle and tortoise field work in Madagascar Gerald came to the University of Western Australia in 1987. He has been involved with western swamp turtle conservation ever since, setting up the successful breeding operation at Perth Zoo in the late 1980s and then as principal investigator of the Western Swamp Turtle Recovery team. For over a decade Gerald has been based at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and he also works for various NGOs internationally as turtle conservation consultant, including in Madagascar, China, and South-East Asian countries.