Lila was inspired to record the local platypus population after a family picnic at Brogo River. 

“I always knew they were there because we go there a lot and my dad fishes in the river,” she said. 

Over the course of a month, Lila trained her eye to spot the illusive native animal at two research locations, one fairly pristine and the other substantially modified. 

Lila photographed, filmed and tallied platypus at the Brogo River across 14 different site visits.

“Even though it meant waking up really early on cold mornings, I enjoyed doing the research and watching them dive and swim and blowing bubbles,” she said. 

Her work caught the attention of the Australian Platypus Conservancy, who helped her structure the research and provided comparable data. 

Although her observations were done over a shorter amount of time, they showed platypus numbers in Brogo river were higher than comparative rivers in Tidbinbilla and Queanbeyan. 

The APC said Lila’s overall sighting-frequency rate for platypus provided a good benchmark for comparing the Brogo River’s platypus numbers with populations in other waterways where similar visual monitoring has been carried out.

Lila’s research was supported by the Sapphire Foundation, which provides scholarships to young scientists in the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla. 

Sapphire Foundation chair and founder Warwick Adams said Lila’s work filled a hole in platypus research. 

“I was surprised at the lack of information that was out there and I was really surprised at the numbers she recorded, her videos are just fascinating,” he said.  

“No one has really surveyed these local rivers before, and Lila went out and found these Brogo River platypus are common and healthy.”

He said Lila’s invitation to the Young Scientist awards ceremony at the University of Wollongong on November 1 was a great way to get feedback from science experts. 

For the second year of her Sapphire Foundation scholarship, Lila is unsure if she will build upon her platypus research or choose a new topic, but she hopes her work will make people more aware of the unique native animal. 

“If people were more aware that they are in this area they would be better protected, most people don’t know they are as far down as Coopers Gully,” she said. 

“I think with more information and protection, there is really good opportunity for eco-tourism.”

The APC hopes Lila’s work inspires other students and citizen scientists to take up the similar local research. 

Further details on Lila’s Young Scientist Award, presented by the Science Teachers' Association of New South Wales, will be revealed at the award ceremony.