Platypus returns to The Royal National Park after more than 50 year absence

Following its absence for over half a century, the iconic platypus is set to make its return to Australia’s first National Park  - The Royal National Park - just south of Sydney.

A partnership between UNSW, the World Wild Fund for Nature-Australia (WWF), Taronga Conservation Society Australia and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) aims to ensure the platypus’ future.

Once thriving in the rivers of the Royal National Park, there have been no recorded sightings of platypus since the 1970s. This new project will translocate an initial group of 10 platypus, a mixture of males and females, in the first half of 2022.

As part of a worrying trend the platypus has been in decline across much of its traditional range due to river mismanagement, habitat destruction, predation by invasive species, and an increased frequency and severity of droughts and fires due to climate change.

NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean notes “the platypus is seen nowhere else on the planet and like so many of our other precious native species, its future is uncertain. Unfortunately, we have some of the worst extinctions rates anywhere in the world and we have to make sure the platypus never makes that list.”

NPWS will also be investing in public viewing infrastructure once the initial population is established. This will consist of specialist boardwalks and viewing platforms designed to have minimal impact on platypus habitat.

Professor Richard Kingsford from UNSW’s Centre for Ecosystem Science says it is vital we develop the capability to actively manage platypus populations and do a better job at protecting their freshwater homes.

Professor Kingsford advises “while platypus are resilient animals, we want to make sure future generations can see them in the rivers of the Royal and all the way down the east coast of Australia.

“Platypus are hard to see and mainly nocturnal animals, so we will survey and assess the condition of all the rivers and creeks in the park and checking which part of the rivers are suitable for reintroducing new individuals,”

WWF-Australia’s Rewilding Program Manager, Rob Brewster said the project is an important first step to ensure we can see these iconic animals thriving again in places where they have not been seen for decades.

“Platypus are to our rivers what koalas are to our forests, but there’s a risk they will disappear if we don’t talk bold steps to reverse their decline,” adds Brewster.

“This project will combine rigorous scientific monitoring with on-ground action to return platypus to rivers they once called home.”

Platypus will be fitted with acoustic tags so researchers can track their progress and any breeding activity for up to two years.

Dr Phoebe Meagher, Conservation Officer at Taronga Conservation Society Australia said the project was an important step in protecting the iconic species.

“Taronga is working to protect the platypus on multiple fronts, from building capacity to respond to climate change, to providing our unique skills in veterinary care, husbandry and conservation science to this exciting translocation project,” said Dr Meagher.

“With declines across the species range, we look forward to working with our partners to develop all the necessary tools to secure a future for our emblem species.”

The team, working with WWF and Taronga, will also survey other platypus populations across NSW to determine where the species is doing well and where animals could be sourced for reintroduction into the Royal National Park.

Researchers will begin this new project by surveying rivers in the Royal National Park to identify suitable habitat and confirm, as everyone suspects, that all the platypus have gone.

Image courtesy World Wild Fund for Nature-Australia (WWF)