Panthers star Mitch Kenny reveals conservation project to save platypus

Away from the bright lights of the NRL, three-time premiership winner Mitch Kenny is spearheading a unique project around a beloved Australian animal. He’s not the only star making a difference off the field.

When three-time premiership winner Mitch Kenny isn’t leading the line speed for Penrith, he’s spearheading a conservation project to save the platypus right at the foot of the mountains.

“They’re so elusive,” Kenny told this masthead of his unique pastime.

“Not many people will see a platypus in the wild in their lifetime. So they’re probably a little bit out of sight, out of mind compared to other animals we have.

“For so much of my life, I didn’t even realise they were in the waterways out here.

“So when I found that out, I was like, ‘One, I want to see a wild platypus. And two, so many people don’t realise that we have platypus here either’.

“There are so many simple ways we can help support the population of platys out here.

“If I can use my small platform to sort of have a bit of reach in that direction, then, I’d like to be able to do that.”

Penrith hooker Mitch Kenny holding a platypus as part of the Planting for Platypus event in Regentville, NSW in March. Picture: Facebook

Platypus conservation is how Kenny fills his cup off the field, and how he has found a greater purpose beyond the bright lights of the NRL.

“Since moving to Penrith, it has been a developing interest of mine,” Kenny said.

“I love the area I live in, I want to give back to it and look after it in some way, because I feel a strong connection to the area, and it feels like my home.

“So I like to get involved in little projects, whether it’s helping with council bush regeneration or the Hawkesbury-Nepean Platypus Project.

“It’s just stuff I like to do outside of footy to fill my cup I guess. Whenever my schedule lines up, then I’m hoping I can do more with them throughout the year.”

The platypus population of the Nepean River needs a voice like Kenny’s.

In the last 18 months, at least four platypus have been found dead along the river due to pollution in the waterways.

“I’m not trying to be like a crusader or anything like that… but they live in the Nepean and I live out here too and I think that’s pretty cool, so I want to look after them,” Kenny said.

“They face pressures that we can easily mitigate and it’s just raising a little bit of awareness around that.

Panthers star Mitch Kenny has been spending a lot of time with the local wildlife. Picture: Supplied

Panthers star Mitch Kenny has been spending a lot of time with the local wildlife. Picture: Supplied

“One of the biggest things they face is just litter.

“The Hawkesbury-Nepean Platypus Project said they found five dead platys in the river, and four of those were caught in fishing nets or yabby traps, which is illegal to leave out anyway.

“People just don’t really think about them when they’re cutting their lines and leaving them in the river, platys is the last thing on their minds. They don’t even know they’re there.

“It’s so easy to fix if we can just have a little bit more education around it.

“They’re a beautiful little Australian animal.”

NRL stars have always used their platforms and profiles for brand deals and endorsements.

But Kenny is just one of the growing number of stars using their voice to raise awareness about important societal issues and causes.

Roosters superstar James Tedesco has a cancer outreach program, running out of the Sydney Children’s Hospital, named in his honour.

Jarome Luai working with the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter. Picture: Richard Dobson

Four-time premiership winner Jarome Luai has teamed up with the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter to spread the water safety message in western Sydney after he had his own brush with a rescue from a wave pool during Origin camp last year.

“I haven’t seen a platy in the wild yet,” Kenny said.

“But my focus has shifted from selfishly just trying to see one to trying to do my little bit in raising awareness for what the Hawkesbury-Nepean River Platypus Project and the great work they do.

The 27-year old has always had an affinity to nature that has developed into a passion for wildlife since moving to the foot of the mountains.

“It’s definitely something that has grown on me. I didn’t care much for this stuff when I was a kid,” he said.

“But as I have matured and spent more time in Penrith, in the Blue Mountains, and have come to really appreciate this place and call it home then why wouldn’t I want to try and look after all the beautiful wildlife, flora and fauna we’ve got out here.”

When Kenny isn’t helping to raise awareness about Penrith’s wildlife and natural surroundings, he is admiring it.

On his days off Kenny is an avid herping enthusiast.

“I spend a lot of my days off in the mountains, bush walking. It started into a bit of a hobby, going out with a head torch of a night-time looking for snakes, frogs and stuff like that,” Kenny said.

Panthers star Mitch Kenny has been spending a lot of time with the local wildlife. Picture: Supplied

“Going herping, they call it…. Herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians.

“The more I’ve sort of engaged with that stuff and realising how much is actually out here. The more I’m like, ‘Oh geez’, if I can play a small part in sort of looking after this stuff, then I’d like to.”

Herping has a way to go before overtaking the likes of golf and fishing as some of the most popular hobbies enjoyed by NRL players.

But Kenny isn’t alone in wanting to disconnect the daily grind of rugby league by connecting to nature on a day off.

Former Panthers teammate Jaeman Salmon is also a nature enthusiast, who Kenny describes as a real ‘wildlife guru’.

“I think I actually got him into it,” the Canterbury forward said.

“We’ve gone into the Blue Mountains a couple times with this known sort of wildlife guy that lives in the area, and he’s taken out there looking for snakes or whatever else.

“Every off season, I usually go away and if I’m in somewhere tropical, I try and team up with someone in that area, go for a bush walk to look at the native wildlife, whether it be in, you know, Asia or Central America”

Kenny is planning to fly to the Northern Territory during Penrith’s bye rounds to explore Darwin’s wildlife but finding a new Panthers teammate that shares the same enthusiasm might not be so easy.

“They probably think I am a little weird,” Kenny laughed.

“But I think a lot of them are coming around. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I think they appreciate it.

“Without getting too deep into it, I just think in the modern day, we’re pretty disconnected from nature and it’s something we could all tap into a little bit more.

“For me, I’m just wired that way.”

Originally published as Panthers star Mitch Kenny reveals conservation project to save platypus