Citizen Science- Platypus Spotting on Mt Wellington
From the Wellington Park Management Authority with Conservation Volunteers and the Rothwell Wildlife Preservation Trust
Why not combine your favourite activity in Wellington Park with keeping an eye on some of its residents?
 We are looking for information from Bushcare, catchment and bushwalking groups, and the general public to add to the current database of wildlife records.
A platypus monitoring project has been set up by the Wellington Park Management Trust, Conservation Volunteers Australia and the Rothwell Wildlife Preservation Trust.
With support from the community, monitoring activities will also extend to other wildlife species.
Why do we want to know?
The information gathered will help us to understand, appreciate and conserve the incredible array of wildlife we are privileged to have on our doorstep.
The information will assist to:
                         
Ensure accurate evaluation of species status;
Be aware of changes in populations;
Plan conservation activities; and
Protect existing populations from threatening processes.
        
Time and resources do not allow for this kind of large scale information to be collected by scientists alone. Community participation is extremely valuable in helping to map current distribution and to provide insight into changes over time.
Funded by the Rothwell Wildlife Preservation Trust
The elusive platypus
The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is one of Australia’s
most amazing animals, and
also one of the most difficult to monitor and track! Help from the community is vital to map local platypus distribution to use for its conservation. The platypus is totally protected throughout Australia– it is considered common, but
is vulnerable to many factors, including waterway modification, poor water quality, predation, illegal fishing activity, litter and disease.
In Tasmania, there is concern about a disease known as Mucormycosis, which causes ulceration, almost always resulting in the death of
the infected animal. Information collected will help interpret the significance of these threats to the conservation of the Tasmanian Platypus.
What information is needed?
Simple!
Who? What? When? Where?
All sighting details add something to the existing body of information. Your information could be a chance encounter, or the results of a survey session (see below).
It is important that collected information is in a consistent format. You will be asked for the following:
• Your name & contact details
• Species
• Date & time of observation
• Location (GPS coordinates, map grid
references or precise descriptions) • Notes (eg were any animals seen
with ulcers?)
How do I get involved?
Go to www.wellingtonpark.org.au and follow the links to enter your observation details.
Further information is also available, including Playtpus
Fact Sheets, Monitoring Tips, and information on how to conduct your own dawn/dusk survey session, as well as links to related programs.
This is an observation program only – please do not disturb or touch
any of the animals you happen to see. If you find an injured or sick animal, please contact the Wildlife Management Program (DPIPWE) on 03 6233 6556 or the Wellington Park Ranger on 0408 517 534.
Enquiries to:
wildlife@wellingtonpark.org.au
The Editor of Tasmanian Geographic is a shadowy and mysterious figure who is often found deep underground, in the treetop branches, on coastal beaches, or high in the mountains.
