The Helen George Mammal Grant Award – update on Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance (BMPA)

WIRES is proud to support BMPA, a volunteer-led group protecting platypuses in the fast-growing Bacchus Marsh region in Victoria. In under five years, BMPA has grown from 5 to 65 members, including a youth club (Platypus Pals), and works to safeguard local waterways for platypuses and other native species.

With threats from litter, fishing gear, sediment runoff and stormwater inflow, the grant is funding a multi-faceted project including:

• Community Education – Animated videos (in English, Hindi + 1 other language), brochures, contractor booklets, and workshops.
• Community Action – Hazard removal, “Loopy-Litter Blitz-a-thon” events, and ongoing clean-ups.
• Emergency Preparedness – Volunteer training for injured platypus and wildlife rescue, with expert partners.

The project protects ~30 local platypuses in the Werribee River and supports wider catchment populations by maintaining healthy, connected habitats. This initiative unites residents, builders, children, and culturally diverse communities in safeguarding one of Australia’s most iconic and vulnerable mammals.

Main image credit: Michael Jerrard 

Bottom image credit: Ronald Bradford