Freshwater turtles rescued from a dried‑up water hole in western New South Wales have been released back into their native habitat after the state government’s decision to cut environmental water flows left the site desiccated.
Late last month, wildlife officials returned ten broad‑shelled turtles and three Murray River turtles to the Gingham water hole, located in the Gwydir region of the state.
The water cut followed a complaint lodged by a private landholder, prompting authorities to halt the supply of environmental water to the area. The cessation of flows has been linked to the deaths of wildlife and sheep in the vicinity.
Gingham water hole, once sustained by allocated environmental water, had dried up, forcing rescuers to intervene and transport the turtles to a temporary holding facility before re‑introducing them to the restored site.
Environmental water allocations are a key component of New South Wales’ water‑management strategy, aimed at maintaining wetland ecosystems that support a range of native species, including the broad‑shelled and Murray River turtles.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>