FAQs

Biodiversity refers to variety in all plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they hold and the ecosystems they form.  It takes into account the interactions between individuals, between species and the environment.

Biodiversity underpins our life support systems and healthy ecosystems supply all the food, medicines, wood products and fibres we all depend on.

To understand more please watch Dr Steve Morton from the CSIRO and his ideas about biodiversity here.

You can sign-up for our quarterly biodiversity e-news and subscribe to updates here.

Tucki Tucki Recreation Park is located within the Tucki urban green corridor.  This wildlife corridor is one of the most recognised and well established in the area.  Vegetation and riparian areas within this corridor have undergone active restoration by Council and community interest groups over the past decade.  This park contains a popular walking track and provides a habitat for a range of fauna such as platypus, koalas, microbats, frogs, turtles, reptiles and numerous birds species. 

Did you know that platypus are regularly sighted in Tucki Tucki Creek?

Platypus are unique to eastern Australia.  When they were first encountered by Europeans they thought the specimens were fake as they were so 'odd looking'.  They are one of two types of Monotremes: egg-laying mammals, the other being the echidna.

Platypus are semi-aquatic, resting and nesting in burrows and feeding on insect larvae, worms and crustaceans living in the creek. They close their eyes, ears and nose when diving below the water and use electroreceptors on their leathery bill to detect the electrical currents of prey.

Platypus need to eat at least 20% of their body weight daily, so they spend about 12 hours foraging for food, mostly between dusk and dawn.

If you happen to get a photo of a platypus in Tucki Tucki Creek you can upload it to our 'Ideas' tab and let us know when you saw it.

We can all play our part in ensuring the diversity of plants and animals flourish.  Below are just some ideas:

• Plant native species in your garden.  Go to My Local Native Garden Guide here.
• Make a habitat in your backyard - leave a small messy corner of native grasses, dense low shrubs, leaf litter and wood for birds, insects and lizards to live in.
• Wash you car on the lawn so the water soaks into the ground and try not to use chemicals (chemical free cleaning cloths are available).
• Keep pets in at night and keep your dog on a leash and out of the creek when in Tucki Tucki Recreation Park.

If you have other ideas please upload them to our 'Ideas' tab.