While you’re out looking for a platypus, it’s important to record what you see so you can share this information with platypus researchers and scientists.
Aim to get a photo. A photo captured on a phone, even at a distance, is great. Good gear like a DSLR camera or long-lens can help too.
It’s also useful to make notes of things you notice, including:
- The movements of the platypus: if you saw ripples, what shape were they? Did the animal duck and dive or float on the surface? These can help distinguish the sighting from a rakali or other animal
- The vegetation along the waterway. What was the vegetation like along the water? Was it sparse or thick, were there trees and shrubs? Was there any litter? What was the water flow like?