Conservation Project Aims to Protect Platypus

Now in it’s 4th year, the Platy Project aims to collect population data of platypus across eastern Australia in order to establish whether or not the iconic animal is at risk of extinction. By reporting sightings – and even a lack of sightings – using the interactive platy-project map from the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) you can help to ensure this species is protected.

Platypus are shy, diurnal creatures – meaning they’re most active at dawn and dusk, in riverways, creeks, and dams. To spot a playpus, National Nature Campaigner for the ACF, Jess Abrahams says you need to be patient and quiet.

“If you head down to a river or dam or stream at dawn or dusk, sit quietly on the bank, enjoy a little bit of time in nature, and just watch for the telltale signs. That might be a V-shaped ripple of platypus cruising along [or] you might see some bubbles from the sediment being disturbed.”

Logging these sightings means that the ACF can fill in data gaps.

“We know platypus numbers are in decline, but we just don’t have enough data to prove how fast they are disappearing. And that was actually why we started the Platy Project with scientists at the University of New South Wales because we want to gather the missing data to determine whether or not the platypus is endangered. We know in Victoria it’s listed as vulnerable to endangered. We know it’s declining in Western New South Wales and Victoria, but we just don’t have the data to prove it.”

Getting involved is as easy as heading to the website, and logging your sightings.

Image Credit; Grumpy Turtle Creative

Provided by the Australian Conservation Foundation and used with permission.