What uses electroreception to find its prey, is venomous, and is a semi aquatic mammal that lays eggs?
One of Australia’s iconic species, the platypus.
The word ‘platypus’ comes from the Greek for ‘flat-footed’ as they walk on their knuckles when travelling on land to protect their webbed feet.
If you’d like to learn more about this fascinating, unusual animal and become part of a project to locate them and protect their habitat, then come along to the launch of the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network’s Platypus Project.
The UCLN will be working in conjunction with the Australian Platypus Conservancy on the year-long study.
It will use Citizen Science and DNA technology to determine the presence of platypus and rakali (Australian Water Rat) in the Campaspe and Coliban Rivers.
At the launch, discover how you can help us create a key planning blueprint for future waterways management and platypus conservation efforts in the Upper Campaspe Catchment.
Biologists Dr Geoff Williams and Dr Melody Serena from the APC will explain how they will be undertaking DNA testing to locate the platypus and inform the community how they can become involved in locating them and protecting their habitat.
Landowners whose properties border the Campaspe and Coliban Rivers and their tributaries and would like to be involved can contact Sandy on uclandcare@gmail.com for an Expression of Interest form. This project was funded with the support of the Victorian Government.
The launch of The Platypus Project will be held on Friday October 26 at 1.30pm at Campaspe River, end of Mill Street (near Jennings Street) Kyneton. All welcome.
