THERE is hope platypuses will re-colonise parts of the Yarra River as research reveals they are starting to return.
The Australian Platypus Conservancy has been studying platypus numbers and movements since 1995. Its latest results, from June 2008 to February 2012, indicate sporadic but increased sightings of the creatures. Up to three of the native creatures have been spotted during each quarterly monitoring session.
“Numbers are going up steadily and they are pushing further and further downstream,” APC spokesman Geoff Williams said. “Clearly, the overall trend over the past three years has been upwards.”
The findings complement a new report by wildlife ecologist Josh Griffiths on platypus numbers in the nearby Merri Creek. He said sightings had increased since the 1980s, when the animals all but disappeared from the urban waterways because of pollution. “The extended presence of at least one platypus in Merri Creek since late 2010 is an encouraging sign. The increased rainfall received during this period has improved conditions in many waterways around Melbourne but efforts to improve habitat along the creek have undoubtedly helped as well,” he said.
Merri Creek Management Committee manager Luisa Macmillan said increased rainfall, the end of the drought and work on reducing pollution could all be credited for the creature’s slow return.
However, she said more work was needed to reduce litter in the waterways.
“We need to improve the health of Merri Creek, which means tackling the poor water quality and the prime reason we have poor water quality is because of storm-water run-off from surrounding urban areas.”
Melbourne Water acting general manager
of waterways, David Ryan, said recent
sightings showed platypuses were returning
to the waterways, and not from increased
population.
