Platypus

The platypus, or Djamalang in Dharawal language, is a unique Australian animal. Along with echidnas, platypuses are known as monotremes – mammals that lay eggs. Platypuses occur in freshwater systems along Australia's eastern coast, where there are slow moving pools and fast-moving riffle areas with coarse bottom materials such as cobbles and gravel. Platypuses make use of crevices and stream debris for shelter or burrow into earth banks under roots of native vegetation.

Platypuses are active all year round, but mostly during twilight and in the night. During the day, individuals shelter in a short burrow in a bank. The platypus feeds mainly during the night, foraging up to 12 hours per day, on a wide variety of aquatic invertebrates such as shrimp, worms, yabbies, pea-shell mussels and immature and adult aquatic insects (such as dragonflies, caddisflies, beetles and water bugs).

For more information about how you can become a backyard Buddy and care for Platypus visit: https://www.backyardbuddies.org.au/fact-sheets/platypus

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Council's support of the Platypus and its habitat

Significance of the Platypus logo for Camden Council

During 2005, Council formally adopted the platypus into its logo as a symbol of a Sustainable Camden because although once common in the area, the effect of human activities has impacted on the river and has seen the decline of the platypus. One of Council’s goals is to improve the quality of the Nepean River so that the platypus can return to its natural habitat.

Platypus Monitoring Program

Detecting species, particularly in an aquatic environment, can be difficult, time consuming and often highly invasive.

Every living creature leaves traces of DNA in the environment through skin cells, fur, hair, and scats. This is known as environmental DNA or eDNA. Analysis of eDNA is a relatively new, quick and non-invasive method for detecting species such as the platypus.

Council commenced a platypus monitoring program in February 2021 that utilises eDNA technology to determine the presence of platypus at several sites along the Nepean River at approximately 5km intervals. The monitoring program aims to better understand the local platypus population and better direct conservation efforts along the riparian corridor.

Water samples are collected at each of the sites and then sent to a laboratory for analysis of any trace of platypus.

Sampling will be undertaken in February or September each year as these are active periods in the platypus lifecycle – juvenile platypus emerge from the burrow in February and breeding occurs in September each year.

Results of Platypus Monitoring Program

Results from sampling in September 2021 detected the presence of platypus in the northern sections of the Nepean River downstream of the suburb of Camden. In September 2022 we were unable to take samples due to the river conditions after the 2022 flooding events. We sampled again in February 2023 with a broadened sampling area which included some smaller tributaries of the river to gain further understanding of platypus habitat, range, and population dynamics. The sampling results in 2023 did not indicate the presence of platypus at any of the sampling locations. Council will continue working with neighbouring councils and researchers to build our knowledge and understanding of their distribution.

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Platypus Sightings

As platypus are rarely seen in the wild, Council encourages residents to report any platypus sightings on the following links: 

• Report a Sighting – Australian Platypus Conservancy
• platypusSPOT | Home

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Platypus safe yabby traps

On 30 April 2021 DPI Fisheries enforced a ban on all closed-top yabby traps, including opera house and Kulkyne pyramid style traps. It is now illegal to use closed-top yabby traps in all inland waters in NSW.

This is a win for aquatic air-breathing animals, including platypus, turtles, water birds and rakali (Australian water rats). Platypuses were particularly vulnerable to being killed in these traps because yabbies are part of their natural diet and they would often get trapped in the net and drown.

Open-top traps are safe for platypuses but are still just as effective for recreational yabbying.

For more information on permitted and prohibited freshwater fishing methods and gear visit DPI Fisheries website.