About 130 people gathered on the banks of the Campaspe River in Kyneton on Friday for the launch of the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network’s Platypus Project.
With the sound of poddlebonk frogs calling from the river, they learnt from senior wildlife ecologist and platypus expert Josh Griffiths of EnviroDNA how they could be part of the year-long citizen science project. Water samples gathered over the next year with the help of landcare groups, community members and Kyneton Secondary College students will be tested for platypus and blackfish using exciting new DNA technology.
“There is little current data on the status of platypus populations across Australia. This project will allow local citizen scientists to collect comprehensive data across the UCLN region and contribute to a national assessment of platypuses, the largest platypus survey ever undertaken,” Josh Griffiths said.
EnviroDNA pioneered the development of the eDNA technique for detecting platypus. They are the only scientists worldwide who have successfully detected platypus in the wild using this technology. Over 1000 sites have been tested nationwide returning positive results for platypus at hundreds of those sites.
People interested in getting involved in the project can go to www.uppercampaspelandcare.org.au/about-us/the-platypus-project/ or email uclandcare@gmail.com
