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Care for Cardinia Creek |
Reintroducing the Platypus to Cardinia Creek! |
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Beaconsfield Flora and
Fauna Reserve *Intro
to BFFR *Location Maps Friends of Cardinia Creek Sanctuary Managing the
Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve
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 In April 2004, the Cardinia Creek became the site of
an important research project for the platypus. For the first time ever,
the Australian Platypus Conservancy released juvenile Platypus into the
Cardinia Creek as part of an experimental reintroduction. The Platypus is believed to have lived in the
Cardinia Creek up until the Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983. The fires
are likely to have contributed to the local extinction of the Platypus
by causing the creek to dry up in the northern reaches, and destroying the
riparian vegetation that stabilised the creek banks and provided
protection from predators and habitat
for the bugs that the platypus feed on. The Platypus released in April
included two young females and one male, relocated from the Tarago River
in West Gippsland. The Australian Platypus Conservancy will radio
track the Cardinia Creek platypus to study their movements and the success
of the release project. If successful, the Conservancy will attempt
Platypus reintroductions of more individuals here and into other waterways around Melbourne.
You can help to protect the Cardinia Creek Platypus... PLATYPUS FACTS... The Platypus is found only in eastern Australia, from northern Queensland to Tasmania (and on Kangaroo Island, SA). It is considered as "Common but Vulnerable", which means that it is still common, but is vulnerable to becoming endangered in the future if we don't take measures to conserve the species. Its numbers are declining particularly in urban and agricultural areas. The Platypus lives in streams, creeks, rivers and man-made water bodies such as farm dams. Their diet consists of freshwater invertebrates such as shrimps, yabbies and insects. They are a predator near the top of the food chain, and need to eat one-third of their body weight each night (An adult platypus weighs 1.2-2.5kg). It hunts mostly at night, swimming with their eyes closed underwater. They use electro-receptors in their bill to pick up tiny electric currents that are produced when bugs move in the water. They can also help the platypus to swim around rocks and large objects in the water. Each night, they can travel up to 14km in search of food. Platypus rest in burrows along river banks above the water line. Each platypus will have up to a dozen burrows scattered along their home range (which is 3km for males and 1km for females). These burrows are made at varying heights to allow for variation in the water depth. They use two types of burrows: "nesting" burrows, which house a female and up to three young, and "camping" burrows, which are all the other burrows used. While two adults may use the same burrow, they are generally solitary animals. Platypus (and Echidnas) are a type of native mammal
called a 'monotreme', meaning that they lay eggs. They breed in late
Winter/Spring, producing tin More information on the Platypus is available at the Australian Platypus Conservancy Website www.totalretail.com/platypus How can we help to protect the platypus? Control water pollution - Do not use harsh chemicals around your house and garden that can run into stormwater drains. This includes lawn fertilisers and detergents used for washing cars. Use phosphate-free detergents and wash your car on the lawn. This will help to protect water quality and bug life for Platypus food. Bin your litter - Reduce the amount of
rubbish your family produce by recycling and reusing. Get into the habit
of picking up any litter you see. Get involved in Clean Up Pick up all fishing line that you use or see lying around. This can also kill platypus. If you are fishing and accidently hook a platypus, hold the platypus down with a bag or cloth and remove the hook or have it done by a vet. Never leave it in the animal. Be a responsible pet owner - dont let your pets wander, particularly at night when Platypus are hunting for their food. Keep pets on a leash and supervised when taking them for a walk. Dogs and cats can kill platypus, particularly the young as they learn to swim in shallow waters. Become a Friend! Join the Friends of Cardinia Creek Sanctuary and help them to restore and conserve the bushland along Cardinia Creek. By clearing weeds, planting indigenous plants and allowing indigenous vegetation to regenerate, we are providing perfect conditions for our new Platypus friends (lots of stable banks to burrow in, and lots of plants overhanging and in the water for bugs to live in). |
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eggs (15-18mm) that are similar to snake or lizard eggs. The eggs are
incubated by the mother between her belly and curled-up tail for 10-11
days in a nesting burrow. The young drink milk that seeps through two
round patches on the mothers belly, which the young are believed to
slurp up with sweeping motions by their bill. The baby is called a
"puggle", and first enters the water at 3-4 months of age.
Their life span is around 5 years for males and 7 years for
females. 