Project Platypus is an inquiry-based learning opportunity for students across neighboring schools to investigate their local river environment, focusing on the habitat needs of the nationally threatened species, the platypus. Students become aware of platypuses in their local area and act as citizen scientists to contribute to the research that scientists need on their location and behaviour. The project aims to inspire students to take action in ways that help protect platypuses.
Dr Gilad Bino, a platypus researcher from UNSW, introduced students to the equipment, field methods and research objectives behind his platypus studies. He also explained how students can participate in a citizen science project aimed at mapping platypus distribution along Australia’s east coast. In this session, Dr Bino demonstrated the tools he uses and provided insights into his research on this elusive species.
Dr Bino is currently studying the effects of flooding on the survival of the platypus. Dr Bino and his team had a permit to set (safe) traps for platypuses along the Upper Kangaroo River on the evening of 5 December 2024. After observing the UNSW scientists install a ‘mesh’ net across the river, students had the opportunity to witness a platypus caught up close and observe the process the scientists use when collecting data towards the research project on platypuses in NSW.
We have a number of people who worked incredibly hard to ensure the program was such a great success. Thank you to the staff at the Illawarra Environmental Education Centre – Nikki, Steve, Maddy, Jack and Mr Smee – for providing this amazing opportunity for our students!
I would also like to thank our School Learning Support Officers from Kangaroo Valley PS – Mrs Sim, Mr Steele and Mr Latham – for helping with the cook-ups and clean-ups.
We are incredibly grateful to have a number of local people, businesses and organisations that helped to ensure the program was able to go ahead this year and we hope with their ongoing support we will be able to continue this opportunity into the future. I would like to thank the following people and businesses for their contributions to Project Platypus:
Shark Island Productions
Kangaroo Valley Voice
Gum Tree Foundation
Andrew FitzSimons, Brogers Creek Landcare
A grandparent who wishes to remain anonymous
Shoalhaven Landcare
Valley Outdoors
Mark Bourke and Shines Bus Services
Glenmack Park
KVPS P&C
Fiona Phillips MP, Member for Gilmore
Mike and Billy Hayes at Wilderness Experience Training
Gilad Bino, UNSW
Mark Lamble, Evolve Films
Our Year 5 and 6 students from Kangaroo Valley Public School have written a recount of their experience of Project Platypus.
On our first day of camp we had a talk from Gilad Bino and a Cinematographer, Mark Lamble, about the beauty of platypuses. Gilad prepared a slideshow for us to teach us about platypuses. He also had all of his gear with him and he showed us the gases that he uses to put the platypus to sleep and the nets that he catches them with. Gilad gave us a talk about platypus habitats and nests and the cinematographer was the first person to ever film inside of a platypus nest.
– Written by Daisy and Maddi
On our first day at camp, one of our activities was catching bugs and water quality testing. The process of dip-netting for macroinvertebrates was scooping up some water with a net, tipping everything out of the net into a tray, then observing what we found. If it was an animal that was very sensitive, that could only survive in the best quality water, then it would be numbered 10–8. If you only found invertebrates numbered 6 or below, then we knew the water quality was bad. We found some 10s and 9s, so we knew the water was its best quality. We also did some acidity testing. The water was a tiny, tiny bit not acidic enough, but it wasn’t concerning.
– Written by Elsie
We also tried our luck with carp fishing. Sweet corn kernels are the ideal bait for the introduced pest carp fish, which is in competition with platypuses for food in the river ecosystem. Presence of this significant pest in the Kangaroo River is an indication that platypuses are under competitive pressure in this location.
We travelled by foot and canoe along the river, carefully inspecting the suitability of the river bank for platypus burrows. We conducted Habitat assessments, which are judged by the slope of the bank, the degree of erosion, depth of water, presence of undergrowth and quality of shelter along the bank. The swimming along the way was relaxing and refreshing!
After we went canoeing we had free time. In our free time we played games with each other, roasted damper on the fire and toasted marshmallows. When I tried to roast my marshmallows they all fell off just as I was about to eat them. Some kids didn’t listen to how we were supposed to put the damper on the stick so some fell off. For dinner we had a sausage sizzle. Mr Latham, Mr Steele and Mrs Sim came and helped.
– Written by Izzi and Reed
After we had dinner, groups were allowed to view the platypus. When we got there most of us were nearly screaming for joy at the tiny little sleeping female platypus. We talked to Gilad, the platypus catcher, about how he keeps the platypuses asleep with a bill-shaped gas mask. Gilad said that he has to put a little chip in the back of the neck. Male platypuses weigh 0.8 to 3 kilograms and the females weigh 0.6 to 1.7 kilograms.
– Written by Sam
We got to touch the bill, tail, body and the webbing between its feet. The bill felt soft and leathery, not hard like a duck’s bill. The fur on the body was completely different to the fur on the tail, which was rough. The webbing was soft and thin. Here in KV the female platypuses grow up to 30 centimetres and the male platypuses can grow up to 40 to 45 centimetres.
– Written by Ruben
The first night when we arrived at Glenmack Caravan Park we had a blast! In my cabin I had Wyllow, Daisy, Mia, Maddi and myself. At night, there were beetles everywhere. When Mia was showering a beetle went under the door and she screamed louder than Miss Arnott on the giant swing! For breakfast there were lots of options of cereal and pancakes. For breakfast Abbey had milo flavored cereal and Mia had pancakes. And we were all so happy that Miss Arnott let us go on the jumping pillow after our breaky. It was so much fun!
– Written by Abigail and Mia
On the second day after breakfast we got changed to swim in the Glenmack pool. Miss Arnott gave us a safety talk. Then we hopped into the pool one school at a time, and she wanted to see if we could swim a lap confidently. Once we were in we swam around and had a lot of fun, then we went to the little pool and made a whirlpool, then we got pulled around. It was so much fun. The little pool was hotter than the big pool so we stayed in the big pool. We were jumping off the step in the pool doing John Cena moves, footy tries, and fun jumping. Then Albie, Caleb, Wilson and Sam did Piggyback battles and we all had fun.
– Written by Caleb and Wilson
After a swim in the pool, we got changed and walked to tree planting behind the Kangaroo Valley Fire Station. In tree planting, we had three activities to choose from, Lomandra planting, forest planting and river oak planting. For river oak planting we had to fold these protection barriers to stop wombats from rolling around on the trees. You take one, fold it into a cylinder and put a stick of bamboo through the holes. After everyone had folded at least one then we were told how to plant the trees. First we had to find a place to plant the river oaks. Then we had to get Maddy from the Environmental Centre to drill a hole to put the tree in. Then we put a handful of charcoal, a pinch of these jelly like water crystals and a tablet thing. Next, we had to plant the tree itself. Just put it in the hole, and fill the hole with dirt. Lastly, we put the barrier around the tree to protect it from wombats. Then we repeated the same procedure until there were no barriers left. While we were there, we also did some water quality testing. I joined the group that put these pieces of paper with colours on them in the water. Next we took the paper and checked what it looked like. We compared it to the box and found out how polluted or unpolluted the water was. Finally, we had lunch and went back to Glenmack Park.
– Written by Harry
As a final activity, students decorated a canoe provided by Valley Outdoors, transforming it into a representation of a river habitat. The canoe features reeds, branches, pebbles and a depiction of a platypus diving into the water. Students enhanced the display by using scientific drawings as references to paint watercolor illustrations of macroinvertebrates and other creatures that share the platypus’s ecosystem, including turtles, tadpoles, fish and water rats. Each student also contributed a conservation statement to their artwork, reinforcing the importance of protecting these species. Once completed, the decorated canoe travelled to each of the participating schools, serving as a visual prompt for students to share their Project Platypus experiences and inspire their school communities to support platypus conservation efforts.
In the two days of platypus camp, we did many amazing things with the Illawarra Environmental Education Centre staff, Miss Arnott, and the other teachers. We enjoyed hanging out with the other schools that attended, which were Cambewarra, Berry and Terara. We hope they enjoyed this experience as much as we did.
Now we know that the platypus needs fresh water to survive, they need roots and trees around the river bank to prevent their burrows from collapsing, and that carp harm the platypus by stirring up mud and eating all their food.
We thank everyone involved with this project and are so grateful that we had the chance to see the platypus in our lifetimes.
“Promise me that you’ll tell your grandchildren that you saw a real platypus.”
– Andrew FitzSimons, Brogers Creek Landcare
We thank Andrew for donating money to our camp and making all the difference by doing so.
Thank you to the Illawarra Environmental Education Centre staff for coming and making everything happen in the funnest possible way. Thank you to Miss Arnott and our school staff for arranging this so everyone could make a difference in helping the platypus. And lastly, thank you to Gilad the scientist, and Mark the cinematographer, for helping us understand the importance of caring for this beloved animal.
– Written by Elsie
Written contributions by Year 5 and 6 students of Kangaroo Valley Public School.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Kangaroo Valley Public School programs. They say ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ and we are so humbled to have an amazing community who support all that we do.
Jennifer Arnott
Relieving Principal
Kangaroo Valley Public School
