Wildlife Queensland Upper Dawson Branch - Wildlife Australia Guide

Platypus Watch Workshop 

WILDLIFE Queensland’s PlatypusWatch Network and Upper Dawson Branch will run two workshops in the Taroom region on June 26, 2021 for community members who would like to learn about platypuses.

The workshops are part of a new citizen science project to document platypus populations and distribution in local waterways.

The free, two-hour workshops, which will be held from 9–11am in Taroom and from 2–4pm in Theodore on June 26, will provide a fascinating insight into our iconic platypus, as well as information about Wildlife Queensland’s PlatypusWatch eDNA in the Dawson River project.

This project aims to connect with the local community to educate and harness their knowledge and to provide ‘people power’ to help implement an ongoing program that will protect platypuses across the region.

The PlatypusWatch eDNA in the Dawson River Project is supported by the Queensland Government’s Queensland Citizen Science Grant.

Platypus ecologist Tamielle Brunt is encouraging residents to learn more about this unique mammal and its ‘cryptic’ lifestyle, while also learning science-based skills to observe and monitor platypuses in the wild.

“This project aims to determine platypus distribution in the Upper Dawson River from Baroondah through to Theodore,” Ms Brunt said. “We are using the environmental DNA (eDNA) method, which samples the water to detect platypus DNA, to verify their presence or absence at sites along the river and its tributaries.

“This method has revolutionised the way we can monitor this elusive species to better protect it into the future,” Ms Brunt said.

“We encourage community members to come along and learn about the eDNA project, see a demonstration of the water sampling technique, and learn tips to spot platypuses in local waterways and creeks.”

Interested participants can sign up to join the project to take water samples, either on their own property or at allocated sites.

The workshops will be followed by a community-led early morning observational survey on Sunday, June 27, to search for platypuses.

PlatypusWatch in the Upper Dawson Workshop
Saturday, June 26, 2021; 9am-11am
Taroom Anglican Hall, Taroom. REGISTER

PlatypusWatch in the Upper Dawson Workshop
Saturday, June 26, 2021; 2pm–4pm
Theodore RSL, Theodore. REGISTER