The great news is that, thanks to environmental watering, platypus are repopulating mid-sections of the Mackenzie River for the first time since the Millennium drought. "This new technology means we can monitor more sections of river system where the community has reported seeing platypus and get a better idea of the extent "With platypus, traditional trapping methods are labour intensive and understandably platypus are not that willing to wander into a net," he says. Wimmera CMA CEO, David Brennan, says the new technology will enable the CMA to detect platypus in a non-intrusive way. The CMA is screening water samples for traces of platypus DNA using an innovative technique known asĮnvironmental DNA (eDNA). In 2014–15, the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority (CMA) began using groundbreaking technology to improve platypus monitoring in its streams. In the Wimmera system, platypus were once widespread but now the Mackenzie River supports the last known breeding population. "Platypus need to migrate to the Murray to recolonise and the only likely way that this will happen is to have conditions that support successful long-distance movements by small and inexperienced young animals." Further west "The Campaspe is a really important source of juvenile platypus," she explains. Juveniles from being killed by predators such as foxes. On the Victorian side of the Murray downstream of Echuca.Īustralian Platypus Conservancy biologist, Dr Melody Serena, says the lower Murray platypus population collapsed during the Millennium drought and that the autumn environmental water release provided deeper water to help protect dispersing The same releases aimed to bolster platypus downstream in the Gunbower system (where there are probably fewer than 50 individuals), with the hope of re-establishing platypus elsewhere In autumn 2015, environmental water was released to support platypus in the Campaspe River, north-east Victoria. In 2014–15, Victorian waterway managers used environmental water to support platypus, employing cutting-edge technology to monitor the outcomes of this watering.
It's also believed to be extinct in at least three Victorian waterways in the last few decades: Curdies River, the Avoca River and Bass River. It's classified as 'near threatened' in the 2012 Action Plan forĪustralian Mammals(CSIRO). Yet our 'duck-billed', egg-laying icon requires protection. Along with echidnas, platypus are part of an exceptional group of mammals which lay eggs, known as monotremes. The platypus is a uniquely Australian species. Highly modified rivers are taking their toll on platypus.
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