The grim discovery of a dead platypus in an on-leash dog area has prompted a reminder to dog owners and action from council.
Photographer and platypus tour guide Neil Andison was tipped off about the dead platypus, which had “injuries consistent with a dog attack,” in Maleny earlier this month.
He headed to the spot – close to the northern wetlands of the Maleny Community Precinct, near the Maleny Golf Club – to collect the mammal and take it to Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.
“Finding a dead platypus is never nice,” he said.
“After a successful but heartbreaking recovery … I was advised by the vet that the injuries – perforations at the base of the tail and a broken spinal column – were consistent with a dog attack.”
Mr Andison, aka the Platypus Whisperer, said the precinct was 126 hectares of community land that was entirely on-leash for dogs.
“Unfortunately, we get a large amount of people who let their dogs off-leash in the area,” he said.
“I’m not saying that this attack was a domestic dog, but it has all the markings suggesting it was a dog attack. It could have been a wild dog or fox.
“I would ask dog owners to respectfully abide by the rules. Dogs get in the creek and stress the animals out and they defecate and owners don’t pick it up.
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“It’s not all that do it, but I would like them to consider and respect those on-leash areas. They are there for a very vital reason, protecting wildlife is one of them.”
He said finding dead platypuses was uncommon in the area.
“I’ve been photographing them for over a decade and in that time I have only seen three dead platypuses,” he said.
“We have one of the healthiest populations of platypus here in southeast Queensland in the Obi Obi Creek.”
After contacting Sunshine Coast Council about the incident, animal control officers came to the area to meet Mr Andison and investigate.
“I have the greatest respect for those council rangers, they did an amazing job and do their best with what they are given,” Mr Andison said.
“They are even going to see if we can put some additional signage around the precinct to remind people about having their dog on-leash.”
A council spokesperson said animal control officers regularly patrolled the Maleny Community Precinct to ensure compliance with the on-leash requirements.
“It is a requirement that dogs are controlled under effective management. This means that dogs must be on-lead and are supervised in public spaces by their owners at all times,” the spokesperson said.
“Council is also assessing the area for the placement of additional signage.”
The council spokesperson reminded owners that dogs are allowed on-leash in public places unless otherwise signed.
“In off-leash areas, dogs must be under direct supervision by their owner to ensure that they are not harassing or attacking wildlife, other animals or persons,” the spokesperson said.
“Council is not aware of any other reports regarding dead or injured platypus.
“Council’s Feral Animal Education and Control Team has had no reports of wild dogs in the northern Maleny vicinity and, given the domestic dog activity, is not undertaking any proactive trapping there.
“If you find an injured animal, council recommends you contact Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and follow their instruction in relation to moving the animal.”
Seeing his first wild platypus 15 years ago in Maleny piqued a strong interest in the mammal and reignited Mr Andison’s passion for photography.
“I had had a platypus epiphany and from that point on, I had to find out everything I could,” he said.
“I just built up my knowledge base, I read all the books and I spoke to as many people as I could. I also give guided walking tours.
“I took the (dead) platypus … to the Wildlife Hospital to see if it was microchipped, because I was part of a survey with UQ over the past few years trapping and microchipping local platypus, but unfortunately it wasn’t.”
Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital was approached for comment but did not respond by the time of publication.
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