Authored by Cross et al, Changeology Workshop, October 2017
Based on a true story
Two of our newly arrived residents from overseas were clearing privet on their property. This is their story.
One crisp spring morning we finally came to the bank of the creek. In wonder we gazed at the water running between the rocks and the cool dark pools. Suddenly we saw a flash of fur and a rounded beak. We had never encountered such a strange looking animal before and called our neighbour.
It was a platypus!
Media Release from the ABC:
We still do have platypus in some of our creeks – what can we do to ensure they survive and thrive?
Scientists have joined forces with tech giant Google to build an app that allows Australians to gather information about one of our most unique and elusive animals, the platypus.
Key points:
- Scientists say urban sprawl and climate change are big threats to the platypus
- The app lets people send photos and observations to an online database
- The data will be used in the first national survey of Australia’s platypus population
It is not clear how many platypuses are living in the wild, but conservationists say the star of the 20-cent coin is facing an uncertain future due to urban sprawl and river pollution.
If you see a platypus let us know!