After two years, the historic reintroduction program celebrates the discovery of multiple platypus juveniles born in Royal National Park.
Scientists from UNSW Sydney have confirmed two successful breeding seasons in Royal National Park, with recent surveys discovering multiple juvenile platypuses born since the pioneering reintroduction of 10 founding animals in May 2023 and three more earlier this year.
Leading the Platypus Conservation Initiative with partners NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Taronga Conservation Society Australia, researchers from UNSW's Centre for Ecosystem Science conducted comprehensive surveys over four nights, identifying five platypuses including two new juveniles born within the park.
The program, first proposed by UNSW ecologists four years ago, has now introduced a total of 13 platypuses to Royal National Park – 10 in the founding cohort (six females, four males) in May 2023, followed by three additional animals (two females, one male) in May 2024.
Lead researcher Dr Gilad Bino from UNSW's Centre for Ecosystem Science – who co-founded the Platypus Conservation Initiative almost a decade ago – says the breeding success marks a deeply moving affirmation of targeted conservation.
"We've now confirmed at least three platypuses born in the park – including two juveniles discovered in our latest surveys. This demonstrates that the reintroduced population has truly established itself and is reproducing successfully in their new habitat.," Dr Bino says.
"This is more than just returning an iconic species to its home; it's about restoring balance to the ecosystem and reinforcing our commitment to conservation."
Dr Tahneal Hawke, a co-lead on the project, says the data collected will shape future conservation strategies.
"Our surveys over the past four nights have provided incredible insights into how well these platypuses are establishing themselves," she says.
"Finding both adult animals from our original releases and new juveniles from different breeding seasons shows the population structure is developing exactly as we hoped. The presence of multiple age classes is a strong indicator of a healthy, self-sustaining population."
The recent surveys identified Draco and Prometheus (two males from the original 2023 cohort), with Prometheus confirmed as the father of Gili – the first juvenile discovered last year. The team also found Apena, a female from the May 2025 release, and two new juveniles including one from the first breeding season and another from the most recent breeding season.
In recognition of this achievement, Indigenous elder Uncle Dean Kelly, from NSW Parks & Wildlife, has named one of the new males Djurawalinjang, meaning "we grow together" and the second Djumalung meaning "platypus" in the Dharawal language
Scientists estimate the current population could be as high as 15 to 20 individuals, assuming survival of most of the introduced animals. Each platypus released into the park – or discovered as new members of the population in surveys – are tagged with small tracking devices that allow the scientists to follow their movements in the Hacking River.
Of the original cohort introduced in 2023, a female named Daiki went missing, while a male, Chaos, was recently found deceased in the park. After two and a half years since introduction, scientists believe this represents a natural death.
"The loss of Chaos reminds us that these are wild animals facing natural challenges, particularly during the competitive breeding season when males become highly territorial," says Dr Hawke.
"While any loss is significant, natural mortality is expected in wild populations and doesn't diminish the overall success of the program."
The reintroduction of the platypuses to Royal National Park is one of the most ambitious wildlife recovery projects undertaken in the state, and is the first successful platypus translocation in NSW.
Dr Bino adds that the success of two breeding seasons provides crucial validation for the reintroduction approach. "We're not just bringing platypuses back – we're proving that with careful planning, strong partnerships, and adequate resources, we can successfully restore locally extinct species. This gives us tremendous hope for future conservation efforts across Australia."
The Platypus Conservation Initiative will continue monitoring the platypuses' survival and movements in the park in the months and years to come to gain valuable insights about their establishment in this new environment.
