Sydney Australia (Commonwealth Union)_Scientists were all agog at the Sydney Royal National Park this week. For the first time in half a century, Australia’s unique duck-billed mammal – the platypus was to return to Australia’s oldest national park. In a landmark conservation project, four females were released into the wild, in an attempt to reintroduce this mammal to the Park after it disappeared more than fifty years ago. The platypuses seemed very much at home after being released into the Hacking River at the Park.
Australia is renowned for some unique indigenous species and the platypus holds the lofty title of being just one of two egg-laying mammals found anywhere in the world. While its duck bill, webbed feet, and furry body endear it as ‘cute’ among many, the platypus’ venomous spurs can be quite the deterrent for predators.
Now swimming along the Hacking River very comfortably, platypuses live most of their time in the water at night, using it as a camouflage that deters predators given they are difficult to spot in the wild. They live primarily across Australia’s eastern seaboard from the north of Queensland to Tasmania, foraging for food on the banks of the rivers and streams they inhabit.
The Royal National Park in Sydney was established in 1879 and is the second oldest national park in the world. The Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming USA holds the title as the oldest in the world and was established in 1872.
