Our elusive platypus

By CASEY NEILL
PLATYPUS trackers have made an exciting find in Monbulk Creek.
Melbourne Water contracted Cesar Consulting to complete a live-capture survey for platypus, and a juvenile female was found just above Belgrave Lake.
This followed a sighting of a juvenile above the lake by Yarra Ranges Council staff last September.
The area’s Platypus Monitoring Group is not sure if the juvenile female was a resident but were thrilled to get confirmation that platypus were using that section of the creek.
That’s where its platypus count comes in. The group hopes to determine how regularly platypus use the section of Monbulk Creek, how many may be using the creek, and how any potential resident population might change over time.
The monitoring program will take the form of a ‘platypus community count’. This will involve three targeted surveys conducted during the breeding season to maximise the chances of seeing any resident platypus.
Tentative dates for the counts are 25 August, 8 September, and 22 September, at sunset each day.
The group hopes to have people at several stations distributed along the lake and Monbulk Creek. Volunteers are most welcome to attend one or all of the sessions.
There are plans for Yarra Ranges Council to install platypus-related signage at Belgrave Lake Park encouraging people to report any sightings. Reports can also be made through www.facebook.com/BelgravePlatypus.
For more information, call Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group vice president Vicki Boyle on 9754 4505.