Djanbung is the one of the Bundjalung names for Platypus. It is a sacred animal for the Bundjalung people, featured in local Dreamtime stories and paintings.
The Widjabul people of the Bundjalung Nation are the traditional custodians of the lands, waters, animals and plants of our water catchment areas. They have maintained a responsibility and a deeply felt association with the water and the land of this area for at least 65000 years.
Today everyone is responsible for looking after the animals, plants,land and water.
We are all custodians.
The biggest threats to the platypus is the loss of their habitat, due to land clearing; construction of dams that disrupt the natural water flow; and predation (being prey for another animal). Animal that predate on platypus include our native snakes, water rats, and goannas as well as introduced (feral) animals such as foxes, cats and dogs.
Entanglement in litter, is also a threat to platypus populations, especially discarded fishing line. Popular yabby traps cause many drowning deaths of platypus (see link below)
All native birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, but not including dingoes, are protected in NSW by the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
What is a Platypus?
Platypus Death Traps
Report a Sighting