Endangered Turtles Thrive After Record NSW Floods

When historic floods tore through the Manning River in May 2025, ecologists feared the worst for one of Australia's rarest freshwater turtles living in those waters.

But underwater surveys conducted this month reveal an inspiring comeback story. The endangered Manning River turtle, found only on New South Wales' Mid North Coast, is thriving at pre-flood numbers despite the devastating natural disaster.

Senior eco-hydrologist Daniel Coleman with NSW's Department of Climate Change admits his team wasn't sure what they'd find. "We really weren't sure how aquatic life survives after one of these big floods," he said. "You can imagine as a person being in that water is incredibly dangerous."

The surveys monitored 26 sites across seven rivers, recording 27 Manning River turtles along with dozens of other turtle species. Comparing this data to last year's numbers showed the population remained remarkably stable.

Some turtles were pushed downstream from their preferred headwater homes, but they adapted and survived. Coleman's team will track whether these displaced turtles eventually return to their original habitats or establish new populations in their flood-swept locations.

The Ripple Effect

The floods didn't just spare the turtles. They created conditions for other river species to flourish in unexpected ways.

Fish populations are booming across the Manning River system. Freshwater herring and juvenile Australian bass are thriving in big, flashy silver schools. The extended high water levels after the flood gave these species rare opportunities to breed and spread throughout the river system.

Coleman describes the river as "alive" during surveys, with bull rout, eels, mullet, and three different turtle species all thriving together. The Manning River's unique double delta system, with two permanent ocean entrances and multiple branching waterways, may explain its natural resilience.

A successful captive breeding program run by Aussie Ark and the Australian Reptile Park provides backup insurance for the species. Local conservation teams continue working to protect turtle habitats across the region.

Researchers still don't know the total wild population size, but they're committed to annual autumn monitoring to track long-term trends through future droughts and floods.

Nature's capacity to bounce back continues to surprise scientists who expected much worse outcomes from such a catastrophic flood event.