How we Began

BR was born from the need to collect data to support BRST turtle recovery.

In 2015, Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (BRST) suffered a significant mortality event. Since the event, investigation has identified a virus (Bellinger River Virus or BRV), previously not known to science, as the agent most likely to be responsible for the mortality event.

An estimated 90% of the BRST population is believed to have died as a result of the virus in an approximate 6-week period. Infected turtles suffered blindness, internal organ necrosis and developed sudden inflammatory lesions.

Photo by Shane Ruming, DPE

Prior to this event, the population size for the species is historically between 3000 and 6000 animals. The current Bellinger River Snapping Turtle population is estimated to be less than 200 individuals and predominantly juveniles. (Chessmen et al. (2020)).

Preliminary testing by the Environmental Protection Authority did not detect any water pollution issues. However, a need to collect continuous, scientifically robust water quality data has been identified as a priority need by the scientists involved in the recovery of the BRST, to help inform management decisions.

The BRST is currently listed as Critically Endangered under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The BRST is endemic to the Bellinger catchment, occupying approximately 55km of the Bellinger River. Main threats to this species are past disease associated with the Bellinger River Virus, predation by foxes, and poor water quality.

A total of thirty-five healthy BRST were removed from the river by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPIE) and are now part of a captive breeding program at Taronga Zoo and Symbio Wildlife Park. The offspring from this program are part of a release program in the Bellinger River.

Photo by Paul Fahy

The data we collect through Bellingen Riverwatch is available for use by our partners to inform management decisions towards the survival of this species.

Macroinvertebrate monitoring was added to the BR program in 2021, at the request of BRST recovery scientists. This will bring a more holistic understanding of river health and will help scientists to track the populations of macroinvertebrates, which form an important part of the diet of the turtle.

Bellingen Riverwatch is an important part of a much bigger picture of river restoration and species recovery currently underway.

Photo by Shane Ruming, DPE

The DPE Saving our Species (SoS) program is undertaking a series of actions to conserve the BRST. Actions funded by SoS includes:

  • Research into the Bellinger River Virus by the Department of Primary Industries.

  • Captive breeding and assurance populations housed at Taronga Zoo Sydney and Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh.

  • Biannual surveys to estimate population size, health of turtles and population dynamics.

  • A trial release program to test release of captive-bred BRST into the Bellinger River to supplement the population.

  • Genetics research.

  • Riparian restoration program in the Upper Bellinger River to benefit the turtles through improving river health.

  • Contributes to coordination and scientific validation of the Bellinger Riverwatch program

PhD student, Kristen Petrov, from Western Sydney University is also currently undertaking studies on BRST.