I heard report on ABC radio this morning about Australian long-necked tortoises from around the mouth of the Murray River that have been infected by a parasitic bristle worm that lives in the salty water.

The bristle worms grow on the tortoise’s shell and can get under the shell. As the worms grow bigger and bigger, they impact the tortoise’s mobility, if they get under the shell can stop the legs moving in or out of the shell. The weight of the worms make it difficult for them to move on land where they become victim to foxes and rats.

The worms can be killed by leaving the tortoise in fresh water for a few hours, as the worms need salt water to survive. There is a team operating a rescue shelter for the tortoises.