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Case Studies - Platypus Research/Monitoring |
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Title of project: Melbourne Water Urban Platypus Program
Client: Melbourne Water
Project Outline: Platypus are a unique Australian mammal found in waterways throughout eastern Australia. Since their discovery in Melbourne's urban environment, the conservation of platypus populations has become an integral component of Melbourne Water for improving Melbourne's waterways. We perform biannual live trapping surveys of playtpus throughout greater Melbourne's catchments to determine the abundance and distribution of platypus. Our surveys are used to inform Melbourne Water about the health and status of platypus within their waterways and to help devise conservation programs within catchments. This is a continuing program between Melbourne Water and CESAR Consultants that started in 2007.
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Title of project: The distribution of platypus in the Upper Wimmera Catchment
Client: Wimmera Catchment Management Authority
Project Outline: The
Wimmera Catchment has been heavily affected by drought conditions over
the last 5 years. Previous platypus surveys had indicated several
healthy populations within different areas of the Wimmera Catchment.
However, surveys had not been performed for several years and the
Wimmera CMA commissioned CESAR Consultants to perform live trapping
surveys at 17 sites within the Wimmera Catchment during the winter of
2008. Unfortunately only a single platypus was found at one site in the
MacKenzie River, suggesting that the distribution of platypus within
the Wimmera Catchment has been greatly affected by drought.
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Title of project: Platypus surveys at Mt William Creek in the Wimmera Catchment
Client: Project Platypus
Project Outline: Platypus
surveys in the Wimmera Catchment indicate that platypus populations
have been severly affected by drought conditions over the last 5 years.
Project Platypus engaged CESAR Consultants to perform live trapping
surveys in the Mt William Creek area to determine if platypus still exist in this region of the Wimmera Catchment. Several large pools were identified and two platypus were found in one pool near Dadswells Bridge.
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