Yesterday approximately 195 students from eight schools in the Dubbo region converged on Taronga Western Plains Zoo to participate in the second round of Project Platypus at the Experts Day.  During the course of the morning students learnt about how to convey messages, learnt about Platypus biology, how to report sightings and the threats to the species in the wild. They also participated in cultural workshops about how indigenous communities convey messages through storytelling, dance and art.

The students and teachers will now take back this knowledge to the classroom and develop communication campaigns that will educate the Dubbo community about Platypus populations in the Macquarie River and how we can protect this species.

Shortly the schools will meet again on the 6 September at Sandy Beach, along the Macquarie River, for a field day where they will undertake practical workshops conducting habitat surveys, water testing as well as tree planting and fishing education.

Kristy – Senior Education Officer