The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and University of New South Wales (UNSW) platypus researcher Associate Professor Gilad Bino are calling on the Federal government to urgently fund Australia’s first national platypus survey as new research reveals a decline in the iconic species.
The platypus faces pressure from habitat destruction, climate change impacts like drought and bushfire, invasive species and poor river and dam management. The platypus is also at moderate risk from bird flu as it shares the same habitat as many bird species.
Currently, the platypus is not protected under national environment law. It is listed as endangered in South Australia and vulnerable in Victoria but is not listed as threatened federally which means we have no national action plan to protect it.
In March 2026, the UNSW nominated the platypus for protection under national environment law, using the best data available: more than 13,000 platypus sightings collected across the country over 20 years, including sightings logged by ACF Platy Project volunteers.
Over the last two decades, the data indicates the platypus distribution has shrunk by nearly 25 per cent, and possibly by as much as 30 per cent.
The federal Threatened Species Scientific Committee did not put the platypus on its 2026 Proposed Priority Assessment List, so the UNSW nomination was never assessed.
In its published reasons, the Committee said “there is no evidence to demonstrate declines across the species range or impacts on its national population”.
“To suggest there is no evidence of decline in Australia’s national platypus population is simply incorrect,” Associate Professor Gilad Bino said.
“Platypuses are disappearing from places where people used to find them, but we can’t tell how fast the species is in decline.
“Australia has never once run a national platypus survey, and you can’t measure a decline properly from sightings that people happened to make.
“Our data suggests the platypus already qualifies for protection but if the Committee won’t accept that, we can’t simply ignore and neglect the species.
“We need a national survey so we can ensure our assessment is accurate and that the species is adequately protected long into the future.”
To assist in data collection, the ACF runs the Platy Project which is now in its fifth and final year.
So far more than 15,000 people have taken part, and more than 2,500 platypus records have been submitted to the platy-project map.
Each Spring we ask east coast Australians to head to their local creek or waterway at dusk or dawn and keep an eye out for platypus and make a recording on the map.
“We are calling on Environment Minister Murray Watt to fund a national platypus survey that will gather more data to secure legal protection for the platypus before they disappear from our waterways forever,” ACF nature campaigner Jess Abrahams said.
“The platypus is up against some massive threats and with the arrival of bird flu it is now or never to put the proper protections in place to safeguard the species so our kids and grandkids can grow up with the pure magic of spotting a platypus in the wild.”
