By JESSE GRAHAM
RESIDENTS are warned to be more careful with their rubbish disposal after a female platypus was found dead in a local waterway last week.
The platypus, which was found at Belgrave Lake Park on Anzac Day, was found with a plastic ring tightly wrapped around her body.
James Frazer from Belgrave Platypus Monitoring Group said the plastic ring could have contributed to the animal’s death.
“The litter may have caused the platypus to become snagged and drown, or inhibited the animal’s movement, reduced foraging capacity and made it vulnerable to predation,” he said.
“The platypus did not outwardly show signs of predator attack, suggesting drowning may have been the cause of death.”
Mr Frazer said Melbourne Water scientists will examine the body to find a likely cause of death and that animal deaths could be prevented by better waste management.
“The Monbulk Creek platypus population is already small and vulnerable,” he said.
“The loss of potential breeding females could hit it hard – these kinds of painful and needless deaths of animals can be avoided if we all take a little more care of what we do with our waste.
“Although this event is tragic, we hope sharing word of this find will provide a wake-up call.”
Residents finding a dead platypus should contact the Department of Environment and Primary Industries on 136 186 and the Belgrave Platypus Monitoring Group at belgraveplatypus@gmail.com if found near Monbulk Creek.
