Critically endangered snapping turtle program breeds hope for survival

Ninety per cent of Bellinger River snapping turtle adult population was wiped out but Australia's Taronga Zoo is breeding numbers back up

The Bellinger River snapping turtle is one of the rarest turtles on the planet after a virus wiped out more than 90% of the adult population in 2015, but a captive breeding program is bringing hope that a healthy population can be restored in the wild.

Thirty-five turtles have hatched at the special breeding facility at Taronga Zoo since the beginning of this year.