1,500 Bell's turtle hatchlings to be released in Northern Tablelands rivers as part of UNE breeding program

Saving an endangered species, one hatchling at a time. (Lani Oataway / James Paras)

The population of Bell's turtles in the NSW Northern Tablelands is about to get a big boost after researchers incubated 1,500 of them in a lab.  

It has been estimated up to 90 per cent of nests are predated on in the wild, but a University of New England (UNE) program to breed the turtles in captivity has been going from strength to strength.