FOR those who spend enough time around Molong Creek, spotting a platypus isn’t necessarily a once-in-a-lifetime event.
In fact, there is one familiar platypus, who likes to regularly make an appearance, much to the delight of locals who are lucky enough to catch her surfacing.
Molong Stores owner Robert Carroll recently shared a video on social media that’s gone semi-viral of one of the creek’s platypuses enjoying the water, describing it as a “bloody treat”.
“Look at this platypus having a great old time in our creek,” Mr Carroll wrote.
The footage, which has racked up hundreds of likes and thousands of views, was captured by local resident Deb Oates, who Mr Carroll affectionately dubbed the local “platypus chaser/ stalker/ finder”.
Ms Oates lives close to the part of the creek where she regularly sees the platypuses and said her frequent walks in the area have given her plenty of opportunities to spot them.
“I live close by to where I see them and go along there often so my percentages are high to spot them,” she said.
While sightings may be relatively common for those who know where to look, Ms Oates said she still feels fortunate every time one appears.
“I always feel very lucky when they surface,” she said.
The presence of platypuses has also prompted locals to consider what their regular appearances might say about the health of Molong Creek.
“A lot have mentioned that the creek must be healthy when they are about,” Ms Oates said.
Mr Carroll certainly considers the sightings something worth celebrating.
“How lucky are we,” he wrote. “What a bloody treat.”
The latest sighting comes during Platypus Month, a time dedicated to celebrating one of Australia’s most unusual and iconic native animals and highlighting the importance of protecting the freshwater environments they depend upon.