Latest news with #platypus
ABC News
a day ago
- Science
- ABC News
More platypuses released in Royal National Park where species is making comeback
Two years after the historic return of platypuses to Australia's oldest national park, scientists have released another three animals as part of the second phase of a conservation program. A total of 13 platypuses have been moved to the Royal National Park's Hacking River, more than 50 years since they disappeared from the area after an oil spill. University of NSW researchers Gilad Bino and Tahneal Hawke moved three platypuses from southern NSW, near Tumut, and the ACT to their new home south of Sydney during the twilight hours last week. "The first time around we were concerned about how the platypuses would establish themselves," Dr Bino said. Dr Hawke and Dr Bino have been monitoring tracking devices attached to each animal. Dr Bino said the six female and four male platypuses re-homed in the park in 2023 were thought to be doing well, although one female had not been detected since it ventured up the park's Kangaroo Creek last year. "The tag may have failed, that can happen sometimes," he said. "Obviously there's natural mortality with everything too. "We'll try to survey that area in the future and hopefully she's there." The group is also thought to have produced a baby named Gillie. Another seven platypuses will be re-homed next breeding season. Dr Bino said his team had already gained several valuable insights into animal translocation and rescue. "The understanding that we've gained from this introduction is how successful and resilient platypuses are to these movements," he said. "[So now] we can move forward with reintroduction and restoring waterways across other parts of the country." Funding for the second phase of the project has come from an unexpected source. The Peabody-owned Metropolitan Mine backed the program with a donation of $630,000 — two months after being ordered to pay a $500,000 fine for polluting another tributary of the Royal National Park in 2022. In March, the NSW Land and Environment Court found Metropolitan Mine had on two occasions failed to prevent water contaminated with coal waste from flowing into a tributary of the Hacking River. The $500,000 court order included $196,560 in fines, plus legal and investigative costs to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) totalling $304,806. A $150,000 portion of the fine was to be paid to the National Parks and Wildlife Service for water quality monitoring, which the EPA said was separate to Peabody's $630,000 platypus re-homing commitment. A Peabody spokesperson said in a statement that the Metropolitan Mine was "committed to strengthening its environmental performance and contributing positively to the Illawarra community".
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Grim discovery in abandoned fishing trap near popular Aussie track
For over three weeks, walkers along a popular Aussie track had no idea that something was rotting in the river below. It was only when Trevor Davy scrambled through dense bush, rubbish and leeches that he found four abandoned nets and the lifeless body of one of Australia's most remarkable animals inside. The 63-year-old has become an expert in purging Melbourne's Yarra River of discarded fishing gear and other items dumped by tourists like barbecue skewers, knives and broken glass. He was walking along a 15km stretch in Warburton, east of Melbourne, when he discovered the drowned platypus. 'As soon as I saw the nets, I knew what was in it. The poor bugger had quite a violent end to his life the way he was entangled,' Trevor told Yahoo News Australia. Platypus are listed as vulnerable to extinction in Victoria, with habitat destruction and degradation, and poor water quality leading to a significant drop in numbers and distribution since the early 1990s. Related: 💪 Banning of 'morally outrageous' fishing trap a major win for platypus Another frequent killer of the animals is the Opera House net, yabby traps that funnel aquatic life into an enclosed space they can't escape. While they've been banned in Victoria and NSW, other types of nets, when left unchecked, can still drown platypuses, which need to come up to the surface to breathe. 'He died in a standard hoop or bucket net, which people can readily buy,' Trevor said. Although these nets can be used in Victoria's rivers, they need to be tagged with the owner's name and licence number, and the nets found in Warburton were bare. Trevor's foul discovery has prompted the Conservation Regulator, which sits within the department of environment (DEECA), to issue a warning about illegal and unchecked nets. Its chief regulator Kate Gavens urged anyone with information about the nets that killed the platypus to contact CrimeStoppers. 'Platypus, turtles and rakali are at risk of being trapped in abandoned or illegal nets and we are hoping that someone will come forward with information about these nets,' she said. 'Volunteers do a great job reducing the risk posed by abandoned fishing gear to our native wildlife but they shouldn't have to do it. We need everyone to make sure their fishing gear is being used legally to reduce the risk to our native wildlife.' The nets were found off Cement Creek Road, near the bridge in Warburton's famous redwood forest. Assisted by the Conservation Regulator and fisheries officers, Trevor was able to get three of the hoop nets out of the Yarra. 📸 Excited tourists watch 'nature documentary' unfold as predator hunts off coast 🚨 Driver has 'seriously freaky' 30 minute encounter as huge snake blocks road 🏝️ Farmers lead Aussie research team to 'unreal' discovery on island 'We lost a fourth one, unfortunately. As I was trying to pull the rope in, it snapped and dropped down under a rock shelf, and just can't be retrieved,' he said. 'I'm annoyed that I didn't go up there sooner, as I may have had a chance to get him out and set him free. It was an area I don't normally go to that I will be keeping an eye on from now on.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
