The Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance (BMPA) is asking the community to join them at the Werribee River to help locate local platypus populations.
Throughout September BMPA is assisting the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) with the Platy-Project, a citizen science project that encourages members of the community to record observations of platypus in their local waterways. Platypus are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in Victoria and this information helps researchers to prevent further declines in their numbers.
BMPA secretary Natasha Evans said the the findings will help understand how many platypuses are using the Werribee River in the survey area through Bacchus Marsh, which direction they are travelling, and when.
“We know that the platypus population in Bacchus Marsh has declined over time from the anecdotal stories of long-time locals who used to see many more of them,” she said.
“The individuals that have been caught in catch and release surveys over the past couple of years have been healthy. Ecologists believe the local population size is viable but that it wouldn’t want to get any smaller.”
BMPA already held one platypus siting event on September nine, and will have more on September 23, 27 and 30.
Ms Evans said the eight volunteers at the first event had two positive sightings.
“It was very exciting to spot a platypus. The volunteers involved couldn’t keep the smiles from their faces,” she said.
“I love being in nature and even better if I can be contributing to the protection of local species.”
Details about the platypus spotting events can be found on the ACF website. BMPA is also looking for ongoing volunteers.
Details: www.acf.org.au/platy-project or www.facebook.com/platypusalliance
