21 December 2020 – Hobart Rivulet Platypus

ABC News: The Platypus Whisperer

Many thanks to ABC Hobart for sharing the story of Zoom the Platypus with the world! Read the written piece at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-21/platypus-whisperer-pete-walsh-hobart-rivulet/12986552 View the ABC News story at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N5xsFWr7HA

Little platypus, big attitude! 😀

Rainy summer days make me smile! 😍

Be your own kind of awesome! 😍

Platypus or pollution. It's up to you.

The Summer 2023 edition of Bandicoot Times asks the question what is Larila's legacy?

Read Larila's story online
https://cityofhobartbushcare.cmail20.com/t/t-l-ftiwty-xkitjikyd-r/

Download Bandicoot Times
https://cityofhobartbushcare.cmail20.com/t/t-l-ftiwty-xkitjikyd-y/

With special thanks to the City of Hobart Bushcare program.

Did you know the male platypus is one of the world's few venomous mammals!

While not lethal to humans, the venom produces excruciating pain that may incapacitate a victim. There is no antivenom.

Scientists believe that males use their spurs to inflict painful but non-fatal injuries on each other whilst competing for access to mates during breeding.

Spurs also provide a useful way to determine age and gender in platypuses.

Thanks for the look Jeffery! 🙂

Happy Lunar New Year everyone! 🥰

Feeling the heat today? Spare a thought for the platypus!

Increasingly hotter Summers warm their dwindling habitat. Platypus's highly efficient fur and limited ability to sweat leave them vulnerable to overheating in temperatures greater than 25 degrees celcius. Over 30 degrees celcius is potentially life-threatening.

Scientists have found that climate warming is already affecting platypus distribution. Without action they suggest the next step may be an 'ecological surprise' in the form of a catastrophic decline of this globally significant animal.

Larila's death highlighted the unacceptable impact of litter on platypus.

But how best do we keep the Hobart Rivulet clean?

Picking up litter is a great start, without doubt. Preventing litter entering the waterway, even better. Making less in the first place... the best!

Meet Willow, another platypus you might see while walking along the Hobart Rivulet. She's a busy one! ❤️

So how can you tell who's who in the world of platypuses? We'll be talking about that in the coming weeks. 😀

Love is in the air! ❤️

Meet Little. She's little in size but such a character. Eagle eyes might recognize Little in previous posts.

Rumour has it that she has been spending time in the company of Jeffery. Stay tuned! 😍

Stand clear, Jeffery Express now arriving! 😀

What would you like Larila's legacy to be?

From taking definitive steps to address the problem of litter in the Hobart Rivulet to a community awareness campaign around looped rubbish, and a memorial plaque - there are so many actions we can take to ensure her death was not in vain.

What are the things you would like to see happen?

Be like Eilis, Eva and Audrey from South Hobart Primary School! 🙏

They collected 4.3kg of litter along the Hobart Rivulet yesterday in memory of Larila, the platypus who died as a result of entanglement in a twine loop. Eilis, Eva and Audrey found many things that platypuses could become entangled in.

Please don't wait for an official community clean up day. Grab some gloves, rubbish bags and a friend or two and clean up the rivulet catchment area today.

Thanks to the families involved for allowing us to post this story.

An anonymous elegy attached to the fence at the Boulder Trap where Larila was often seen.

Her legacy begins today. May it radiate across waters far and wide. ❤️

In palawa kani, the language of Tasmanian Aborigines’ the word for platypus is larila (pronounced lah ree lah).

Larila, the Hobart Rivulet platypus recently found with twine around her body, died over night.

Let's honour Larila's life with action.

Injured Platypus Update ❤️

Unfortunately our lovely local platypus has encountered a number of complications due to the recent litter entanglement. She will remain in care at Bonorong for the next 1-2 months. Her prognosis remains guarded.

A sincere thank you to everyone who has provided worms and grubs for the platypus to date. It's been greatly appreciated. With her stay in care extended, more large organic earthworms are needed! Contact info@bonorong.com.au if you can help.

It's been incredible to witness firsthand the level of care Bonorong provides for Tassie's injured native animals.

If you're looking for a gift idea this Christmas that won't end up at the tip, please consider making a donation to the Bonorong Wildlife Hospital 🥰https://www.bonorong.com.au/donate

News story thanks to The Mercury Newspaper

After two hours of delicate surgery yesterday it's time for the SoHo platypus to eat, sleep and rest!

Can you help supply organic earthworms and grubs for her to eat while she recovers from surgery?

Earthworms must be dug up from your pesticide free garden, not from a worm farm.

The platypus will eat ~100g per day. Earthworms should be in original soil, in a bucket. A drop off point in South Hobart will be provided.

A supply of Corby grubs (AKA cockchafer beetle grubs) would also be greatly appreciated.

Think you can help? Awesome! Contact @hobartrivuletplatypus via Facebook, Messenger or Instagram.

Thanks once again to Bonorong for the incredible level of care they provide for injured native animals.

The SoHo platypus with a loop of rubbish around its neck was captured today and is now receiving medical care at Bonorong! ❤️

She has two deep cuts on her body caused by a loop of twine not much bigger than a 50c piece coin. One cut almost to the bone immediately behind its front leg is of most concern.

The platypus will now go into care before hopefully being released back into the wild.

Thanks to the community members who reported sightings, DPIPWE, the City of Hobart and the amazing staff at Bonorong.

It takes a community to care! ❤️

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Hobart Rivulet Platypus © Pete Walsh 2020-2023