Platypus population paddling strongly in City of Moreton Bay

Published 01 December 2025

• An innovative platypus monitoring project has revealed the platypus population in City of Moreton Bay is more widespread than initially thought
• Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling has detected the presence of platypus in the Caboolture River, North Pine River, South Pine River, Stanley River and Maroochy River catchments
• The Platypus eDNA Monitoring Project will help Council manage the species and their environment and, over time, establish a baseline to identify population changes

Platypuses are paddling around at least 37 creeks and rivers in the City of Moreton Bay, with an innovative monitoring project revealing the species’ distribution is more widespread than first thought.

Council recently completed its third annual platypus monitoring project, an initiative which has positively detected platypus DNA in all five of the City’s major water catchments.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the Platypus eDNA Monitoring Project had confirmed the existence of an abundant platypus population.

“Pleasingly, the results from the project to date show that our platypus population is a lot more widespread than we first anticipated,” Mayor Flannery said.

“Using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, the program has detected the presence of platypuses in the Caboolture River, North Pine River, South Pine River, Maroochy River and Stanley River catchments.

“There was even a positive result in Conflagration Creek at one of our major industrial areas, which demonstrates our proactive management of waterways and the ability of the species to persist in our more urban creeks.

“Beyond the program, we’ve had sightings of platypuses in farm dams and in urban areas – one of Council’s Environment Officers even spotted one crossing Forest Hills Drive near Morayfield.”

The Platypus eDNA Monitoring Project is carried out during platypus breeding season in July and August when it is easier to detect the animal’s DNA, using an innovative sampling approach which helps detect platypus presence in local waterways without disturbing the animals or their habitat.

A negative sample result doesn’t mean platypus are not present in the waterway, just that there may not have been enough DNA present in the sample for one to be detected. Camera traps and community sightings confirmed platypus presence at several locations where eDNA results were negative, reinforcing the value of combining multiple monitoring methods.

Council first ran a pilot of the Platypus eDNA Monitoring Project in 2023, with samples collected from 84 sites, which yielded 36 positive results for platypus DNA.

The program was expanded to 155 sites in 2024, with platypus DNA detected at 71 sites.

This year, the figure jumped to 90 positive results, with platypus DNA detected in a total of 37 waterways from Albany Creek to Stony Creek.

“While it’s too early to say whether the City’s platypus population is growing, the results are promising,” Mayor Flannery said.

“Importantly, this project will help Council to safeguard platypus habitat though proactive management of the species and their environment to aid long-term survival, and over time will establish a baseline to track trends and help identify population changes.”

Platypus data is available on Council’s website: City Of Moreton Bay Datahub

Picture: Bruce Duffy