by Carla Caruso

While there’s been talk of reintroducing platypus to the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri, a close cousin of the animal has been attracting attention along the riverside.

Kensington-based parkgoer Christopher Hunter has been trying his luck at capturing photos of rakali - better known as a native otter or water rat.

“Sometimes [we’re] lucky enough to see them in daylight,” signage along the river says.

Rakali are one of only two amphibious mammals in Australia, the other being the platypus.

*Christopher waits patiently for a photo of the elusive rakali. Photo: Bush Bling.*

“Rakali are usually found near water – fresh, salty or brackish – and are widespread across Australia,” the sign also says.

“Rabbit-sized, these rodents have webbed back feet, streamlined heads and bodies, small ears, waterproof fur, and a long, white-tipped tail, which is used as a rudder. They shelter in burrows and eat a variety of small creatures, especially yabbies.”

Indeed, rakali are carnivorous, though this is unusual for rodents. Aquatic invertebrates, snails, mussels, frogs, fish, and waterbirds form part of their diet too. They’ve even been known to devour turtles and some small mammals.

*Christopher managed to capture this slightly blurry pic of a rakali at the Torrens. Photo: Bush Bling.*

For Christopher, who’s behind wildlife accessories venture Bush Bling, it’s unfortunate not many locals are aware of the magnificent creature. While he’s yet to get a clear shot of the mammal, he hasn’t given up yet.

As he said on Instagram: “Like much of our wildlife, rakali are shy and sensitive and I think I’ve fallen in love with them.

“I’ve seen the golden belly and white-tipped tail. If my camera had focused a millisecond earlier, we would have [a photograph of a] rakali perched on the riverbank. [But] that pic will have to wait until another day.”

One follower was amazed Christoper had got any snaps of the creature, writing: “I have waited patiently to see one at different places and times with no luck, but your patient spirit has rewarded you, deservedly so.”

*A glimpse of the rakali’s tail. Photo: Bush Bling.*

As the City of West Torrens website says, rakali live in burrows along water courses and riverbanks, emerging in the evening, at sunset, or early in the morning.

“Rakali are a top predator and their presence is a good indicator of the health of the water environment they live in,” the site says.

“Today rakali are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, however, more immediate threats include cats, foxes, and changes to land use and accidental trapping in yabby pots … Apart from possums, rakali are one of the last-remaining large, native mammals that can still be found in urban Adelaide.”

The Australian Platypus Conservancy, which, of course, usually focuses on the platypus, recently went into bat for rakali in Victoria’s Ballarat. The organisation spoke out against a lighting project in Lake Wendouree, which would make the mammal more susceptible to predators.

Meanwhile, on the platypus - just this month the monotremes were re-introduced into the wild at Sydney’s Royal National Park after disappearing from it about 50 years ago. A chemical spill nearby may have contributed to their decline.

The species’ return is a joint venture between the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, WWF-Australia, and researchers from UNSW’s Centre for Ecosystem Science.