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RESIDENTS are being invited to register themselves as citizen scientists in an effort to help save the platypus as part of a new initiative partly backed by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority.

The Great Australian Platypus Search is running until October this year to correspond with the enigmatic aquatic mammal’s traditional breeding season.

As part of the initiative, community members who reside close to more than 1500 sites around Victoria will be tasked with collecting “environmental DNA”, otherwise known as eDNA, which will then help scientists construct an accurate map of where the rarely spotted species still live.

“Community members across the Corangamite region are passionate about environmental conservation and protecting animals, especially the platypus,” said Corangamite CMA CEO John Riddiford.

“This is a great way to get outside and down to a local waterway and make real change for the platypus.

“This project will help researchers understand where platypuses still survive in Victoria and provide much-needed data to inform future conservation actions.”

Further information – including instructions on how to join what’s been dubbed “one of the most significant citizen scientist projects globally” – can be found via thegreataustralianplatypussearch.org.