The Great Australian Platypus Search


THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN PLATYPUS SEARCH: 2021 REGISTRATIONS CLOSED Help bring the platypus back from the brink of extinction One of Australia’s most unique and iconic creatures is now at risk of extinction. Suffering under the impacts of habitat loss, drought, climate change and last summer’s bushfires, there is now mounting evidence showing rapid platypus population […]
Map platypus populations across Victoria and fill a critical gap in our knowledge of this notoriously elusive species.

About

THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN PLATYPUS SEARCH: 2021 REGISTRATIONS CLOSED

Help bring the platypus back from the brink of extinction
One of Australia’s most unique and iconic creatures is now at risk of extinction. Suffering under the impacts of habitat loss, drought, climate change and last summer’s bushfires, there is now mounting evidence showing rapid platypus population decline. By volunteering as a citizen scientist in The Great Australian Platypus Search, you will help map platypus populations across Victoria and fill a critical gap in our knowledge of this notoriously elusive species.
1. Choose a Site: Select 3-5 sites that you would like to sample at as a citizen scientist. View sites
2. Sign Up: Sign up to the Search and we will send you an eDNA sampling kit. Sign Up
3. Join our Facebook Group: Stay up to date on the latest project news and engage with our community of citizen scientists. Join the Group
4. Download our App: The Great Aus Platypus Search App is where you will submit all of your data while sampling. Search: “The Great Aus Platypus Search”

School groups
For schools that are interested in participating in The Great Australian Platypus Search, our project partner, Environment Education Victoria, have sites reserved especially for schools.
◦ Visit their website for more info!
◦ Visit the EEV website
◦ Download our App!

Make sure that you download our custom-designed app that will allow you to capture the data you’re collecting on the day. The app is available on IOS and Android. Simply head to the App Store or Google Play Store, search “The Great Aus Platypus Search” to download to your smart phone.

What is involved when collecting water samples?
Watch the eDNA Water Sampling Tutorial and Safety Video
Thank you to our project partners for their hard work and support on The Great Australian Platypus Search

Note: This descriptive text was copied from the Campaign's website. Some website links may no longer be active.


Campaign Details

Group Leading this Campaign: Odonata

Campaign Target Type:

Who this Campaign is Targeting: General public

Main Issue of the Campaign:

Campaign Ran From: 2021 to 2021

Campaign Outcome:

Outcome Evidence: As stated on the Great Australian Platypus Search website: "Thanks to this research, ecologists were able to deduce that platypuses remain widely distributed throughout Victoria, with more extensive populations in the eastern regions compared to the drier and more modified northern and western areas of the state, where populations appear much more restricted and fragmented." (Ascertained May 2024.)

Year Outcome Assessed:

Geographic Range of Activity:


Weblinks

The Great Australian Platypus Search