Platypuses among wildlife found dead in Yarra, Werribee rivers Melbourne
MELBOURNE Water authorities have identified the main cause of a spate of platypus deaths in waterways including the Yarra and Werribee rivers.
Outer East
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PLATYPUSES and other wildlife are being found dead in the waterways including the Yarra and Werribee rivers — and water authorities have pinpointed the reason why.
HOMEMADE yabby traps are to blame for a spate of platypus deaths in Melbourne waterways, authorities say.
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Melbourne Water staff are appealing to anglers to stop planting the dangerous nets in waterways after a spate of wildlife deaths in waterways including the Yarra River.
In one case seven platypuses were found dead in a net in the Werribee River, another platypus and a native water rat — rakali — were found in a trap in the Yarra River in Millgrove, and an empty trap was found at Big Pats Creek in Warburton.
Waterways and Land general manager Tim Wood said illegal homemade “opera house” nets trapped a number of animals underwater.
“We’re absolutely devastated to see our most iconic animals continue to perish in these homemade nets,” Mr Wood said.
“While we know yabby fishing is a popular activity and these incidents are accidental, it’s important that recreational fishers abide by the rules of using these waterways.”
Mr Wood said homemade traps were especially dangerous to wildlife including platypuses, rakali and turtles, which could not escape, and often drowned once entering the nets.
Earlier this year the State Government banned opera house nets from all public and private waterways, with the ban in effect from July 2019.
Anglers can trade in their old opera house nets for free wildlife friendly nets.
Other recent incidents included a dead platypus found trapped inside an opera house net in Seville’s Wandin-Yallock Creek.
Last year five platypuses drowned after they became stuck in yabby fishing nets in a private dam in West Gippsland.
Report crimes against wildlife to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimstoppersvic.com.au
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