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The Southern Highlands Platypus Conservation Project aims to gain a better understanding of platypus distribution, habitat, status and threats throughout the Southern Highlands.
There is rising evidence of platypus population declines throughout Australia, however due to the lack of long-term monitoring studies and difficulties in conducting surveys, information on the status of platypus populations is somewhat limited.
The Southern Highlands Platypus Conservation Project aims to improve this situation by establishing a comprehensive, community-based survey and monitoring program and using the data to assist decision-makers and ensure the Shire has a healthy, thriving platypus population in one hundred years time.
The platypus has been recorded in rivers, creeks and dams throughout the Southern Highlands although the few official records we have are somewhat outdated and often limited to rivers and streams close to population centres.
The most common place to spot platypus in the Southern Highlands is in the Wingecarribee River around Berrima.
Other local waterways to have recorded platypus sightings include:
For platypus conservation to succeed, it is important that people realise that platypus populations require healthy creek and river ecosystems to survive, and that individual actions have a real impact, for better or worse, on the survival of platypus populations.
The Main Threats to Platypus Include:
The Southern Highlands Platypus Monitoring Network aims to gain a better understanding about our local platypus population.
To get involved, regularly visit (weekly or fortnightly) one of the monitoring sites and complete a 5-10 minute visual survey. This can be done during a regular morning or afternoon walk. During the survey, note any platypus or rakali (native water rat) observed and submit the data via a digital form which can be located by scanning a QR code located on signs found at each of the monitoring sites.
Monitoring sites can be found at Berrima at the following locations:
This citizen science initiative follows the methods set out by the Australian Platypus Conservancy.
The tool works on any mobile phone or tablet device. All community sightings are entered into our database and then uploaded to the official wildlife atlas of NSW – BioNet and the Atlas of Living Australia.