Murray crayfish in NSW ‘walk out of the river’ as flooding sucks oxygen from water

Operation under way to rescue aquatic animals in danger of suffocating after record rainfall produces hypoxic blackwater'

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

A rescue operation is under way to save the freshwater crayfish affected by poor water quality following significant flooding along the Murray River.

Murray crayfish and other aquatic animals are in danger of suffocating as dissolved oxygen levels plummet in the southern Riverina region of New South Wales.

Sign up for our free morning and afternoon email newsletters from Guardian Australia for your daily news roundup