AssetID: 53628141
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Largest Group Of Snapping Turtles Released Back Into The Wild After 'Catastrophic' Virus
Caption: A team of conservationists in New South Wales, Australia has released 97 zoo-bred Bellinger River snapping turtles into the wild. The effort marks the largest release of Bellinger River snapping turtles since 2015, when a mysterious virus - now called the Bellinger River Virus - wiped out 90 per cent of the species in just six weeks. No cure for the virus has been found, and research is still underway to determine how the virus spread and whether it is still present in the Bellinger River region. The short-necked freshwater turtle species quickly became one of the most critically endangered species on the planet. Reintroduction programs for the turtles only began three years later, in 2018. They followed a program which placed 16 healthy turtles in Taronga Zoo, New South Wales for breeding, and a second captive breeding program at Symbio Wildlife Park. Since 2018, 179 snapping turtles have been released into the Bellinger River on Gumbaynggirr Country in New South Wales. “The species is dependent on conservation intervention for its survival and without this program, would likely become extinct in the wild,” a press release from the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW) explained. “Releasing zoo-bred turtles occurs through an approved translocation plan guided by reptile and translocation experts, wildlife disease experts and zoo professionals. The turtles are monitored to gather information on survival, health, dispersal and habitat use.” Also known by their latin name Myuchelys georgesi, the Bellinger River snapping turtle is found exclusively within 60 kilometers of the Bellinger River in New South Wales, Australia. Prior to the 2015 virus outbreak, the species was considered to be locally abundant. The latest step in its reintroduction has been led by the DCCEEW’s Saving Our Species program, in partnership with the Taronga Conservation Society Australia and Symbio Wildlife Park. Research on the Bellinger River Virus has been led by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, in partnership with the Australian Registry of Wildlife. “Unlike the previous government, we don’t accept extinctions as inevitable. We want to better protect our precious native plants and animals, so they can be enjoyed by our kids and grandkids,” Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said in a statement. “That’s why we’ve invested more than $850,000 to support the recovery of the Bellinger River snapping turtle, including projects like captive breeding programs and monitoring by citizen scientists.” The Saving Our Species program includes a habitat restoration program in the upper Bellinger River area, a citizen science program to track water quality in the river, and research into the turtles’ genetics, their population dynamics, and the virus. “Thanks to this fantastic work, 100 baby Bellinger River snapping turtles have been given a critical lifeline and can now call the Bellinger River home once again – the only place in the world where this species is found,” Tanya continued. “This is just part of the more than $500 million the Australian Government is investing in protecting our native plants and animals and tackling invasive species.” The Bellinger River snapping turtle marks one of 110 species prioritised for recovery under the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan. “The release of these zoo-bred turtles is a pivotal step in the ongoing effort to prevent the extinction of the Bellinger River snapping turtle,” DCCEEW Minister Penny Sharpe added. “It is vital that we prioritise the conservation of critically endangered native animals, including this precious turtle.”
Keywords: turtle,turtles,snapping turtle,conservation,wildlife,nature,Australia
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