Citizen science to track local platypus numbers

Yarra Ranges residents can help monitor platypus numbers in the upper Yarra River and other waterways as part of a new study from the Australian Platypus Conservancy (APC).

The project will be launched at a platypus information session at the Warburton Mechanics Institute at 7pm on Thursday, 4 July. The next morning, APC biologists will provide practical training for budding citizen scientists along the Yarra River, to scan for local platypus.

Yarra Ranges Mayor, Tony Stevenson, said the platypus was listed as ‘near threatened’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, reflecting signs of population decline in some areas.

“Council has a long-established commitment to protect local platypus populations, which we support through our environment teams and specialised programs such as River to the Bay and community groups we support, such as the Platypus Education Group,” Cr Stevenson said.

“Platypus can be impacted by a number of factors, such as the health of waterways and nearby vegetation, littering and use of illegal ‘opera house’ nets, which they can become trapped and drown in.

“This study by the APC will give us a good indication of how the platypus is faring in our region, so we and other government agencies can plan conservation efforts.

“Platypus are also an excellent indicator of the health of our waterways, so monitoring numbers helps us to assess changes in the health of our rivers and creeks.”

The APC study uses standardised visual monitoring, where trained volunteers visit fixed monitoring sites and record the number of platypus observed, noting when animals are seen and when they are not.

These details are then calculated to become an index of platypus activity.

The APC also launched the Australian Platypus Monitoring Network, a website and app to promote volunteer participation, provide training and allow immediate uploading of sighting records from community members.

APC biologist, Geoff Williams, who will present at the 4 July session, said platypus numbers had declined as a result of environmental degradation and altered river flows in recent decades.

“Fortunately, there is now a huge opportunity to bring the platypus back. Considerable work is being done to rehabilitate river habitats and improve environmental flows,” Mr Williams said.

“There is a growing public awareness of the risks to platypus posed by litter and illegal fishing activities, such as the use of opera house nets.

“However, monitoring platypus numbers is a key part of future planning and getting the community involved in APMN will be a great way of helping the species.

“It doesn’t take a huge time commitment – you don’t have to watch for platypus every day; once or twice a week is fine on average, though you can also certainly look more often.”

Platypus reports can be submitted online at platypus.asn.au

For more information on the Warburton session and to RSVP, visit yrc.vic.gov.au/platypustalk2019