Bellinger River Snapping Turtle Mortality Event 2015

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Bellingen River Snapping Turtle Mortality Event 2015 Introduction This epidemiology report is based on data available as at 7 April 2015, plus an updated map 18 th June from OEH. The scope of this document is to give a broad epidemiological overview of the event. Other more detailed analyses of the data collected will be published elsewhere. A severe mortality event in Bellinger River Snapping Turtles (Myuchelys georgesi) was investigated on February 18, 2015 by Bellingen Shire Council (BSC), Environment Protection Authority (EPA), and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) following a report from local kayakers. Over the course of the investigations an estimated 432 M georgesi have been observed to be dying or dead since February 14, 2015. They were described as slow moving and unable to see. This species relies largely on its sight for feeding and therefore has been severely impacted by the onset of blindness, which has prevented normal foraging. The location of the event within NSW and summarised health status of the turtles is shown in Figure 1. River conditions had been different in the lead-up to the event with severely low water levels prior to Christmas 2014, a severe heat episode in early December 2014 and reported elevated water temperatures. Two minor floods occurred: one in late December 2014, and one in late January 2015. In the early stages of the investigation assessments were limited because the river was under a minor flood (higher than December or January flood levels) following rain from February 20 – 22. Other agencies and individuals that became involved during the course of the event included: NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Local Lands Services (LLS), Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), Karrie Rose (Australian Registry of Wildlife Health -ARWH), Wildlife Health Australia (WHA), University of Western Sydney (UWS), University of Canberra (UoC), herpetology specialists, community members, Gerry McGilvray, Lynn Baker and Shane Ruming (Ecosystems and Threatened Species - EATS -North East team), Duan March (Vet at 1 NSW Department of Primary Industries, October 2015
Bellingen River Snapping Turtle Mortality Event 2015 Dolphin Marine Magic), Mark Crane (Bellingen Veterinary Clinic), WIRES, CSIRO, other national and international laboratories, and NSW Health. In the early stages of the investigation the sick turtles were given veterinary care, but this ceased once the very high case fatality rate and potential biosecurity risk were recognised. Thereafter severely ill turtles were humanely euthanased. Species affected and their distribution The Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (M. georgesi) is only found along a 60 kilometre section of the Bellinger River and potentially a small section of the Kalang River. The distribution is shown in Figure 2. The population size for the species prior to the mortality event was estimated at 1600-3200 individuals (Geoff Ross, pers.comm). They live in deeper pools of clear running water and prefer the upper waters of the Bellinger River. They tend not to live in the brackish water in the lower Bellinger River. M.georgesi is omnivorous, predominantly carnivorous and reliant on sight for feeding. They often feed on macro invertebrates, terrestrial fruit and aquatic vegetation and prey such as caddis-fly larvae.(Cann, Spencer et al. In preparation) In recognition of the highly restricted geographic distribution of the species and the recent mortality event, the NSW Scientific Committee has recently made a Preliminary Determination to list the species as Critically Endangered under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act). Bellinger River Snapping Turtles affected by the incident have been predominantly adults, and most have been male. No other aquatic species are known to have been to be affected, including observations of small numbers of healthy freshwater turtles including the Murray River Turtle (Emydura macquarii). Other animals observed during the surveys included eels, water dragon, goanna, snake and multiple species of fish. Figure 2: Distribution of Bellinger River Snapping Turtle estimated in March 2014. Source: DPI, Bellinger River Snapping Turtle Management Plan – April 2015 2 NSW Department of Primary Industries, October 2015
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Bellinger River Snapping Turtle Mortality Event 2015

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