Photo © Wildlife Queensland

A campaign to raise awareness of platypus issues, including habitat requirements, threats, and the importance of reporting sightings began in October last year at the Platypus Day held at Fleay’s Wildlife Park, West Burleigh. It was a successful day with a large number of enthusiastic people learning more about the wonders of platypus and how to help protect them. Since the opening, platypus information has been circulating through web sites, emails, mail boxes and community notice boards.

The main messages so far have been to ask people to report sightings and to be involved in PlatypusWatch surveys. 11 sightings have been received so far this year and they have been spread throughout the Gold Coast, with a number of juvenile platypus sighted in the Coomera River.

There has been a fantastic response to people wanting to be involved in surveys with 35 people turning up for a training day in March with platypus expert Anna Muscat from Wildlife Queensland giving an excellent, motivating presentation.

Four surveys are planned for 2010, covering Currumbin Creek, Tallebudgera Creek, Mudgeeraba Creek and the Coomera River. 18 enthusiastic volunteers were readily waiting before sunrise along designated Currumbin Creek positions at the first survey on 24 April. Although there had been a number of recent sightings nearby, no platypus were to be seen at the survey. Hopefully some of these elusive little critters will show themselves in the next survey at Tallebudgera Creek.

Find out more about the PlatypusWatch Gold Coast Surveys or contact Glenn Normand.

Find out more information on Wildlife Queensland's PlatypusWatch program.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.