Environment

Platypus thrive at Gunbower

By Geoff Adams

Aug 26, 2025

A platypus surfaces in the Gunbower wetlands. Photos: Nicholas Rowlands. Photo by Nicholas Rowlands

Whether it’s the food source, the climate, or just something in the water, it’s not clear why the Gunbower wetlands are so popular with a rare Aussie mammal.

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Or perhaps they aren’t so rare, it’s just that we are not around at sunrise or sunset when the platypus are busy.

At this time of the year the males are busy marking their territory and showing potential partners what they are made of.

Amateur Gunbower photographer Nicholas Rowlands has taken advantage of the increased activity, while his dairy herd was dried off over winter, to capture some remarkable photos of the Gunbower wetlands.

He has seen up to nine platypus swimming and diving in the wetlands on the busiest mornings.

“They come up for air and stay on top for 30 seconds or so and then they’re gone,” he said.

“They can stay under for quite a while.”

Platypus breed in the Gunbower wetlands, which is connected to the Murray River. Photo by Nicholas Rowlands

Nicholas has been told the Gunbower colony is the last major platypus breeding site on the Murray River’s westward journey.

According to the Australian Museum, a female will lay one to three eggs following a 21-day gestation period.

She then incubates the eggs for possibly 10 days, after which the lactation period lasts for three to four months before the young emerge from the burrow.

“Platypuses are long-lived animals both in captivity and in the wild, living up to approximately 20 years,” the museum noted.

Platypus can live up to 20 years. Photo by Nicholas Rowlands

Nicholas enjoys his photographic hobby, but there will be fewer platypus photographs taken in spring, as he has started spring milking and will be occupied in the dairy.