The Daily Populous Monday May 25th, 2026 night edition
Authored by abc.net.au and submitted by sarahmagoo

The scientist behind the historic reintroduction of platypuses into Royal National Park says the delicate project is starting to pay off, with at least 20 animals living in its waterways.

The beloved native animal is believed to have disappeared from the park's Hacking River south of Sydney following an oil spill more than 50 years ago.

Four adult platypuses, including two females and two males, were moved during twilight hours from the Central Tablelands and Southern Highlands into the tributary this week.

The latest re-homing completes the second last stage of the project, which has already seen 10 platypuses released in 2023, another three in 2025 and the discovery of four juveniles during half-yearly surveys.

One adult male believed to have been trampled by a deer was found dead last year.

Seventeen adult platypuses have been re-homed into the Royal National Park's Hacking River since the project began in 2023. (Supplied: Dr Gilad Bino)

Project lead and UNSW ecologist Gilad Bino said he was now monitoring 20 platypuses who live within the park, but was "absolutely certain" there could be more.

"The males [introduced this week] are called Ducky and Absinthe, and the females are called Hydra and Dawn," he said.

" We have introduced 17 to the park. We know one that unfortunately passed away and then four new individuals. So the best we know, the tally now is 20 platypuses. "

Each re-homed adult platypus is originally from other NSW tributaries. (Supplied: Dr Gilad Bino)

The first puggle found in 2024 is named Gilli, selected by Yuin, Walbunja, Dhoorga Gurandgi cultural man Uncle Dean Kelly, meaning 'flame' or 'life has been ignited' in Dharawal language.

"It's been three really good and wet years in the park, and that's supporting a vibrant food web for the platypuses to feed on," Dr Bino said.

"It's really an indication that when the conditions are favourable, the [platypuses] can survive and thrive.

" Now we've got evidence of two successful breeding seasons, which we are over the moon about. "

Gilad Bino (right) and Tahneal Hawke have led the ambitious project to re-wild platypuses in the Royal National Park. (Supplied: Dr Gilad BIno)

Dr Bino said the translocation process was "exhausting" work.

"We need to minimise the amount of holding time that we keep the platypuses out of water," he said.

"So we head out at about 11pm, get to a site that we know there are platypuses there and then if we do catch a platypus, we have to make sure it's the right sex and in good condition.

"And then if it ticks all those boxes, we can start heading back to the park and try to get to bed by 4am."

Dr Bino said he has gained invaluable insights about platypuses over the course of the project. (Supplied: Dr Gilad Bino)

Each platypus released or encountered by Dr Bino and his colleague, Dr Tahneal Hawke, is tracked using "a little glue … and tracking device."

"The trackers are an acoustic technology, and the battery was supposed to extend to two years, but we got a year-and-a-half out of them," Dr Bino.

" I think it's the longest period we've ever tracked platypuses so the insights were very significant and were really the only way for use to confirm their survival. "

Dr Bino said radio transmitters were now being attached for extra support.

"That gives us an indication of the exact locations of the platypuses' burrows to really understand how quickly they are establishing … and those insights are paramount for any future endeavour to translocate or restore habitat."

The Hacking River is the Royal National Park's main tributary and is now home to at least 20 monitored platypuses. (Supplied: Dr Gilad Bino)

Funding for the second phase of the project comes from a $630,000 donation by mining company Peabody — the operator of Metropolitan Colliery on the park's edge.

Last year's cash commitment was made two months after the company was ordered to pay a $500,000 fine for polluting another tributary of the Royal National Park in 2022.

Dr Gilad said the remaining stage of the project will see three more adult platypuses released into the Hacking River in 2027.

"I encourage people to go put out camping chairs and sit quietly by the bank. And if you get lucky, you might be able to see our platypus," he said.

Lonely_Noyaaa on May 24th, 2026 at 12:26 UTC »

Hopefully the next three they release next year thrive too.

WhatFreshHello on May 24th, 2026 at 11:55 UTC »

https://giphy.com/gifs/mjzpnK2eBSuWs

sarahmagoo on May 24th, 2026 at 11:30 UTC »

> Another four adult platypuses have been released into the waterways of the Royal National Park.

> This latest stage of the historic translocation project brings the park's platypus population to 20, more than 50 years since the animal disappeared from the area following an oil spill.

> The latest re-homing completes the second last stage of the project, which has already seen 10 platypuses released in 2023, another three in 2025 and the discovery of four juveniles during half-yearly surveys.

> A final three platypuses are due to be re-homed into the Hacking River next year.