Leading the charge for platypus preservation

WILDLIFE lovers are being called on to report platypus sightings throughout the Northern Rivers region as part of a citizen science project to track their plight.

Mullumbimby-based Dr Gilad Bino, from the University of NSW’s Platypus Conservation Initiative, is among those involved in the platy project, which is being run in partnership with the Australian Conservation Foundation.

He hopes that by tracking numbers over time researchers can better understand how to help the egg-laying mammals – and push for endangered species status if required.

“We know there’s been a decline in numbers and distribution of many Australian species,” he said.

Dr Bino said platypuses are particularly hard to study because they are mostly active at night.

“Most people really only catch glimpses of them, so to accurately assess changes and trends in distribution and numbers we have to really put in effort,” he said.

Dr Bino has worked with Taronga Zoo in Sydney to reintroduce the species into the Royal National Park to re-establish a previously locally extinct population.

The platypuses were sourced from across NSW and taken to the zoo’s Platypus Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre for health checks and acoustic tagging.

In recent years, people have reported sightings in The Channon, Wilsons Creek, Dunoon, Goonengerry, Nimbin and Bangalow.

“Usually, we see densities of four platypus per kilometre in small creek systems like the ones we have around the Northern Rivers, but it varies according to the breeding season,” Dr Bino said.

He said the best times to spot platypus were at dusk and dawn and advised to find a spot and sit for a long time.

“If you go and don’t see a platypus, report that too,” he said.

Dr Bino said landholders could also help platypus by embracing regenerative farming to maintain topsoil and restoring vegetation.

To see where platypus have been spotted or report a sighting, visit platy-project.acf.org.au