The Zoo’s Project Platypus is going from strength to strength! The five schools involved in the first round are already well and truly under way creating messages to help protect Platypus populations in the wild and to educate people about the importance of the environment.  Schools, such as Macquarie Anglican Grammar School, have been screen printing T-shirts with slogans to convey their messages, whilst the Lincoln School at Juvenile Justice has created a mural telling the story of the Platypus and its role in the environment.  This mural will be installed in the Zoo grounds later this year. Another eight schools are getting started in the second round of Project Platypus, with a third round commencing with schools in Parkes and Forbes.  It is great to see so many students and schools involved in Project Platypus. The project empowers students to become advocates for a local species not just by raising awareness, but through helping their families and communities change their attitudes and behaviours towards their local environment, in order to help protect platypus.

All the work the students are doing will culminate in a Community Expo that will be held on 21 October 2011 where students will be able to show what they have learnt to the community, encouraging them to be environmental advocates.

Kristy – Senior Education Officer