Turtle Troubles

A native turtle decimated by a mystery killer disease is being brought back from the brink of extinction with community help.

- Elizabeth Arrigo

THE LOCAL COMMUNITY along the Bellinger River, on the NSW north coast, is proving to be critical in preventing the loss of a highly endangered native turtle species. It was the quick reaction of the same community three years ago that kept the freshwater Bellinger River snapping turtle (pictured above) from local extinction.

Back in 2015, the Coffs Harbour NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) began receiving frantic calls from people living along the river reporting that turtles were turning up dead and dying. Many had lesions on their bodies, inflamed eyes and other unpleasant symptoms. As more and more began appearing, it became clear the reptiles were being struck down by a highly contagious disease.