Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Platypus reveal the health of Wimmera waterways
People ranging from young children to adults are lining up for the unique experience of touching a live platypus, thanks to the work of Project Platypus - a consortium of Landcare groups working to improve land and water quality in the Upper Wimmera River Catchment.
Funding
A $13,000 grant from the Australian Government has helped the organisation to conduct monitoring of platypus populations at specific sites where the species is known to live.
"Platypus represent healthy waterways, and healthy waterways represent healthy catchments," said Emily Tyson, Manager of Project Platypus.
Activities and achievements
Project Platypus coordinates the work, and together with the Australian Platypus Conservancy, organises volunteers to spend two evenings per survey setting traps for the elusive mammal.
"We use partially submerged traps so the platypus can still breathe, and check on them from dusk and throughout the evening. When we catch one we measure the length of its bill and tail. We also record whether it's male or female, as well as its age and general condition," said Emily.
"People get to touch and feel a real platypus. They're amazing animals, and feel very interesting -for example, the tail is a lot rougher than the body."
The project aims to raise community awareness and estimate platypus populations through the surveys. But as Project Platypus is actually a Landcare network, it also focuses on the bigger picture of improving the environment in which platypus live.
Since forming in 1994 Project Platypus has worked with farmers, volunteers and the community to address biodiversity, soil erosion, water quality and land management issues across the catchment.
In recent times the group has planted 50,000 seedlings a year in strategic locations across hillsides and along waterways to create 'biolinks' (plants that link up remnant or former fields of native vegetation).
With the prolonged drought however volunteers have turned their efforts towards preparing sites, direct seeding (which only germinate when conditions are right), controlling rabbits and foxes and erecting fencing to protect native plants.
"It's amazing what comes up when stock is fenced off and some weed control is done. There's a natural seedbank in the ground that forms a beautiful understorey of plants," said Emily.
"Farmers are really starting to see the benefits of planting trees, protecting waterways and modifying farming practices to preserve their soils."
More information
- Emily Tyson, Manager Project Platypus: (03) 5358 4410 or etyson@platypus.org.au
- Project Platypus website: www.platypus.org.au
See also
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window