The Canberra Times reports Anglers warned to look out for illegal tabby traps.
Put simply these funnel traps are certain death for platypus. They are submerged and are designed for yabbies to crawl in through a funnel that collapses at the 'ring' opening so that access is easy whilst exit is impossible. For an air breathing monotreme entering for a meal of captured crustacean this is certain death from drowning.
These traps are, and sensibly so, illegal in the Australian Capital Territory. Local waterways and our upper reaches of the Murrumbidgee are prime, and in a lot of cases recovering, habitats for Platypus.
Anyway... At the time of the August post I mentioned to the goodly Minister of the time the daftness of allowing these traps to be sold in ACT stores. From memory I was fobbed off politely.
Once again I'm not going to get hung up on it but these things are available here to kids for under 10 bucks. It's a ridiculous law when supply isn't restricted but that's up to the Pollies.
Unfortunately these traps often go unnoticed as they are not always conspicuous. If people on their walks simply keep an eye out for ropes/cord secured to the river bank in some fashion. Pull it out and report it please.
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