Geoff Williams of the Australia Platypus Conservancy releases a platypus at Upper Beaconsfield in April.TWO healthy male platypus have been found in Cardinia Creek.
The find was made during a recent survey by Melbourne Water and the Australian Platypus Conservancy.
The survey results follow the release of six platypus into the creek over the past two years as part of the first platypus reintroduction project undertaken in Victoria.
Australia Platypus Conservancy spokesman Geoff Williams said he was pleased with the results of the survey, which usually identifies only about onethird of the animals known to be in the system.
“The two platypus we found were both released into the creek as part of our reintroduction program one of them was released in 2004 while the other was released in April,” Mr Williams said.
“We never expect to catch all of the population in one evening and this result is very positive.”
Before they were reintroduced, platypus had not been found in Cardinia Creek for about 20 years, probably as a result of the Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983.
Mr Williams said those fires had a devastating effect on the health of local rivers and creeks and habitat for native animals.
“The good condition of these two platypus suggests that the reintroduction is still going as planned,” Mr Williams said.
The Cardinia Creek platypus were released into the creek from the Tarago River, which has a large, secure platypus population.
It is hoped more platypus will be relocated next year in a bid to help establish a longterm breeding population.
Melbourne Water managing director Rob Skinner said that the results were a fantastic indicator of the health of the Cardinia Creek and the success of the reintroduction program.
“These results show that when we all work together to improve and protect our local rivers and creeks we help to create a healthy environment for populations of native animals such as platypus, fish and frogs,” Mr Skinner said.
