‘Incomprehensible’: birds flee and hundreds of turtles left to die after government cuts water to NSW wetlands

Frogs and sheep in the Gwydir wetlands near Moree have also been bogged after WaterNSW stopped environmental flows, researchers say An “incomprehensible” disaster is unfolding at wetlands in New South Wales after the state water agency abruptly stopped environmental flows in the state’s north-west, leading to the deaths of turtles, waterbirds, frogs and sheep. Researchers from the University of New England (UNE) have been desperately trying to help more than 300 turtles they say have been left to die in the Gwydir wetlands near Moree after WaterNSW stopped environmental flows following a complaint from a landholder. Environmental flows refer to water released by the government from dams and tributaries into rivers and ecosystems to restore their health. Video shows scientists digging to reach a large female broad-shelled turtle stuck under boggy mud in the Gingham watercourse after water dried up. Dozens of others are in the same predicament, and some have already died. The affected animals include older female turtles that were carrying eggs and hoped to nest. The UNE conservation biologist Prof Deb Bower called the scene a “disaster”. “These deaths are incomprehensibl