2026 Platypus Conference at Taronga

Dr Anne Musser recently attended the 2026 Platypus Conference: Approaches to Platypus Biology and Conservation, held at Taronga Institute of Science and Learning. This conference was attended primarily by researchers studying all aspects of platypus biology. Approximately 160 people attended in person.

The forum was held due to the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) being a species of interest because of its uniqueness and because it faces many threats. These conferences provide a way to share research results, raise conservation issues and discuss other issues with colleagues and the wider community.

Anne presented the work she, Dr Tom Grant (University of New South Wales) and Dr Eren Turak (DCCEEW) did on monitoring of platypuses at the Blue Lake during two major desedimentation works needed after two extreme flood events, showing that platypuses at Jenolan have been resilient through these major disruptions and remain resident in the Blue Lake.

Platypus research team at Taronga. (From left to right) Dr Tom Grant, Dr Michelle Ryan, Dr Joanne Connolly, Dr Anne Musser, Dr Geoff Dutton. (Front) Dr Katherine Warwick. Absent: Dr Eren Turak. Photo: Sarah Cordell

Platypuses were found to use man-made infrastructure such as siphons and pipes to transit between the Blue Lake and the Jenolan River downstream. Anne also introduced the current research team, which adds four new members from Western Sydney University and Charles Sturt University.

The research team is now capturing platypuses to assess health and to microchip individuals for later identification, sampling sediment and water to determine the presence of heavy metals and other contaminants; and sampling macroinvertebrates to assess diversity, abundance and health.

This conference is planned to be held every 2-3 years moving forward.