UNSW Scientists Collaborate to Establish New Rescue Center for Threatened Platypuses

The refuge in NSW’s central west will help protect the unique species from escalating threats posed by droughts.

UNSW Sydney’s Platypus Conservation Initiative has joined forces with the NSW Government and Taronga Conservation Society Australia to open a new conservation facility for platypuses in regional NSW.

Platypus Rescue HQ at Taronga Western Plains Zoo is dedicated to rescuing, researching and rehabilitating platypus affected by severe droughts.

The centre was jointly funded by the NSW Government, Taronga and philanthropic donors, along with research program funding from the San Diego Zoo and Wildlife Alliance. Scientists from UNSW’s Platypus Conservation Initiative will provide advice in its construction and also collaborate on future research.

During the catastrophic drought of 2019, there were many reports of platypuses stranded and dying in drying rivers, but interventions were not possible given the lack of specialised facilities to house and care for large numbers of them. One successful rescue led by the Platypus Conservation Initiative, ACT Government and Taronga Conservation Society Australia showed it was doable.

Taronga Conservation Society Australia has increased its capacity to respond to future droughts and rescue platypuses, with the new purpose-built facility able to hold and care for up to 65 platypuses.

“Platypuses are a globally iconic species, and with this initiative, the NSW Government is showing how seriously we take the impact of climate change,” NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Penny Sharpe, said.

“This rescue facility provides us with the opportunity to save platypuses during severe droughts. This did not exist in the severe drought of 2019, when many platypuses died when rivers dried up.”

Dr Gilad Bino, from UNSW’s Platypus Conservation Initiative, highlighted the gravity of the situation for platypuses.

“Droughts pose a significant threat to the platypus, especially those already under pressure from other environmental challenges. Without proactive measures to protect our rivers and enhance our readiness for emergency interventions, we risk further declines and local extinctions of this iconic species.”

Dr Phoebe Meagher, Conservation Officer at Taronga Conservation Society Australia, recognised the importance of bringing together knowledge on rescue, rehabilitation and research.

“Our innovative research will broaden the conservation toolbox for the platypus to ensure that wild populations remain resilient in the face of climate change,” she said.

“The ability to overlay science with existing knowledge on platypus conservation and care will enable us to move forward as we strive to protect this iconic species from extinction. The team from the Platypus Conservation Initiative is leading conservation projects across the country, including the recent reintroduction of platypuses to the Royal National Park last year, a collaborative project between Taronga, WWF-Australia, and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.”

The new facility will also house a small platypus population, allowing Taronga experts and partners from UNSW and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance to research the species’ reproductive biology and understand biological, behavioural and environmental triggers for emergency rescues in the wild.

Dr Tahneal Hawke, part of the Platypus Conservation Initiative, expressed excitement about the project’s potential.

“The new rescue and research facility is an innovative leap forward that will enhance our understanding of platypus responses to environmental stressors. This knowledge is pivotal for ensuring we are prepared to act swiftly during future droughts.”

Professor Richard Kingsford, also from the Platypus Conservation Initiative, said the move protects the animals’ future as climate change brings more extreme weather events.

“This development significantly increases our chances to avoid collapses in platypus populations when rivers dry up in the next severe drought, as in 2019,” he said.

“We can learn much about how to avoid this with our partnership and this magnificent platypus rescue facility.”