Rapidly declining platypus numbers in the Barwon River and other local watercourses has prompted a “great search” for the iconic creatures to help reverse the trend.
The Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is calling on local wildlife enthusiasts to become “citizen scientists” in The Great Australian Platypus Search.
The search involves students, kids, community groups and others taking water samples at 1500 sites across Geelong, the Corangamite region and Victoria from August to October – platypus breeding season.
“This project will help researchers understand where platypuses still survive in Victoria and provide much-needed data to inform future conservation actions,” Corangamite CMA chief executive John Riddiford said.
“Community members across the Corangamite region are passionate about environmental conservation and protecting animals, especially the platypus.
“This is a great way to get outside and down to a local waterway and make real change for the platypus.”
The platypus is now at risk of extinction with mounting evidence of the species’ decline following habitat loss, drought, climate change and recent bushfires.
The species was listed as threatened in Victoria for the first time earlier this year.
Scientists will use the samples to detect platypus DNA over large areas.
Data of this quality and consistency has never been gathered on this scale before in Australia, according to Corangamite CMA.
