This week, we received the following email from the Australian Conservation Foundation inviting the Club to be involved in Platypus Project. The email has been reproduced in full for your information.
I believe we do have a platypus population in Cardinia Creek where it meanders through Akoonah Park and others have been reported in Upper Beaconsfield.
Hi Berwick Rotary club
My name is Ophelia. I work at the Australian Conservation Foundation, Australia’s national environmental organisation. I’m getting in touch to offer the Berwick Rotary club an exciting opportunity to get involved in some local activities to get out in beautiful nature and help protect our animals this September.
What: Counting platypuses as part of the Platy-Project Month of Action
It’s called the Platy-Project Month of Action. In the month of September, we’re trying to get as many people as we can to head down to their local creek or river, find a quiet place on the bank, try to spot a platypus and record what they see.
How does this help the platypus?
Even though the platypus is one of our most unique and iconic animals, there are big gaps in our knowledge about the creature, including where it lives and how big platypus populations are. With platypus numbers declining, the lack of existing platypus data is a huge barrier to getting the protection it needs from extinction. ACF has been working with researchers at the University of NSW to try and fill this data gap, but we really need help from lots of people in the community!
If you’re interested
I would love to chat with you about how Berwick Rotary club could get involved in hosting a platypus surveying event sometime in September. Not only would it be helping nature, but it’s a really easy, and relaxing activity that can bring the community together. Is this something you would be interested in chatting more about?
You can check out more about the Platy-Project here, https://www.acf.org.au/platy-project.
I really hope you’ll join us in this important month of action to help the platypus before it’s gone.
Kind regards
OPHELIA DAVENPORT | Executive Assistant to Director of Campaigns & Engagement
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au