The River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari is another step closer to reintroducing platypus, with more than 1,500 problematic opera house style yabby nets removed.
Opera house nets, which were banned from use in SA last year, pose a drowning risk to air-breathing aquatic animals including platypus.
Over the weekend, a round up event saw the collection of more than 1,500 opera house nets. The removal of nets from the Torrens system is a key step in preparing the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari for a future platypus return.
Green Adelaide Presiding Member Professor Chris Daniels said the strong interest in the round up event and exchanging these lethal nets was a positive sign for the rewilding project.
“We are thrilled to support the collection of more than 1,500 opera house nets from the community and replace them with wildlife-safe pyramid nets,” Professor Daniels said.
“The success of our platypus project relies on removal of these opera house nets and it is fantastic to see the high interest from the community with a sold-out event over the weekend.
“Platypuses have drowned in opera house nets interstate, so the getting these nets out of SA waterways is key in the viability of one day seeing these iconic Australian animals back in the Torrens.”
The opera house nets were exchanged free-of-charge at an event on Saturday May 11 at Felixstow Reserve.
RecFish SA Executive Officer Asher Deszery said it was pleasing to see the interest in the round up event.
“The strong interest from the community over the weekend demonstrates their desire to do the right thing by our wildlife, and we look forward to holding future events to give more people a chance to exchange their nets,” Mr Deszery said.
Green Adelaide is leading the bold rewilding project to reintroduce platypus to the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari and funded RecFish SA to facilitate this free exchange event to fast-track the removal of opera house nets from metropolitan waterways.
Discover more about Green Adelaide’s platypus project.
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