The Critically Endangered Western Swamp Tortoise is the subject of the recently published book, Westy: the Western Swamp Tortoise by Cathy Levett. A bright, colourful children’s book with simple but engaging text, Westy is the outcome of the author’s involvement with the Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise group. Chair of the Friends group Jan Bant said, “We are proud that [the book] is one of only a handful by a Western Australian author about an iconic Western Australian animal, totally published and printed here.”

 Author: Cathy Levett with ‘Westy’ book

Once found scattered along the Perth Coastal Plain, the naturally occurring Western Swamp Tortoise population now consists of about fifty breeding adults plus a number of juveniles that are only found in the Ellen Brook and Twin Swamps nature reserves. Clearing for industrial purposes, urbanization and intensive agriculture have contributed to its dramatic decline in numbers. It is now listed as “Critically Endangered” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List (2017).
“Raising awareness of plight of this unique wildlife is a passion of mine,” author Cathy said. “I am so pleased with the way the book has been received.”

For more information on the animal or to buy the book ($20 plus p&p), visit Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise website ; all proceeds go to the Friends group.

Wendy Morris