The Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (Myuchelys georgesi) is endemic to a 70km stretch of the Bellinger River in northern NSW.In February 2015, a significant mortality event of Bellinger River Snapping Turtles occurred, with affected turtles presenting with emaciation, acute inflammatory lesions of the eyes and sinuses causing blindness, and fatal internal organ necrosis. Saving the freshwater Bellinger River Snapping Turtle from extinction. Photo: Paul Fahy. The Bellinger River Snapping Turtle recovery project is coordinated by the NSW’s Government’s Saving our Species (SoS) program. The Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (BRST) (Myuchelys georgesi) is a freshwater turtle endemic to a 60 km stretch of the Bellinger River, and possibly a portion of the nearby Kalang River in coastal north eastern New South Wales (NSW). The program to help the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle is part of the NSW Government’s $100 million Saving our Species Fund. This freshwater snapping turtle is one of the rarest in the world and was on the brink of extinction until dedicated and passionate environmentalists stepped in to save them. Credit: Taronga Zoo. Bellingen Vet Clinic (funded by DPI) to record data on sick and dead turtles and report to DPI and OEH. However even with active management, recovery of the species will take more than a decade. In mid-February, 2015 a significant mortality event was observed in BRSTs. The dead turtles were all from one species, the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (Myuchelys gorgesi), that only exists in a 25-kilometre stretch of the Bellinger River. Bellinger River Snapping Turtle Management Program V4 . o New sick or dead BRSTs reported to 131 555 to arrange collection to Bellingen Veterinary Clinic. The Bellinger River snapping turtle, Myuchelys georgesi, is a species of freshwater turtle that, prior to this outbreak, was rare and has a very restricted habitat. There’s a turtle species that exists in just one catchment on the planet and that’s here in Coastbeat country – the Bellinger River to be exact. The project aims to release the healthy turtles bred at Taronga back to the Bellinger River. It is confined solely to a 60 kilometre section of the Bellinger River, and a short section of the adjacent Kalang River in northern coastal New South Wales (NSW), Australia. A Bellinger River snapping turtle hatchling at Taronga Zoo. Their task: to find out what was killing the rare Bellinger River snapping turtle (Myuchelys georgesi). Bellinger River Snapping Turtle hatchlings. An immediate and co-ordinated response to this tragedy was implemented by local and state government authorities.