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Fast Facts

Duration

1 day

Location

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Activity Level

Help for 'Moderate'Moderate

Amenities

  • Electricity
  • Flush Toilets
  • Hot running water

Links

More Information

This 1 day expedition begins at 8:30am and finishes at 5 pm.

The project will be carried out in almost all weather conditions including rain so please be prepared for working outside no matter what the weather report says. Strong winds may prevent teams from working on the harbour. If this occurs other activities will be arranged for your team.

Weather permitting you will be out on the harbour in an open boat for part of the day. You will need to bring with you dive booties or shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, a change of shoes for the lab, warm clothes and a waterproof jacket. It is highly likely that clothes will get wet particularly the bottom of pants. Please bring a spare set if you think you will be uncomfortable during the afternoon.

On the Expedition

Work is needed to gain an improved understanding of this elusive and little studied animal.

Working with Dr Peter Banks, a specialist in the research of threatened native mammals, participants visit beautiful and secluded beaches around Sydney Harbour where they will help set out or retrieve hair traps, conduct habitat surveys, analyse hair/foot pad samples and record evidence of native mammal activity.  The afternoon will be spent in the lab learning microscope techniques to analyse and identify hair samples.

Meals and Accommodations

All refreshments including lunch, water and snacks are provided. Lunch will be eaten at a local café and likely consist of soup and sandwiches.

About the Research Area

The research will be based out of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science at Chowder Bay near Mosman. From there, teams will board semi rigid inflatable boats (also known as a Zodiac or ‘rubber ducky’) and travel to various research sites around Sydney Harbour.  These are small strips of beach and bush, some of which are accessible only by boat, perched beneath the rocks surrounding the harbour. It is anticipated that rakali may be present at these secluded locations.