Three Rescued Platypus Released Back Into Wild After Being Saved During Australian Bushfires

Three platypus rescued during Australian bushfires have been released back into the wild.

These three adorable platypus have been getting some TLC at the Taronga Zoo

Here’s the beginning of the story when the platypus were rescued.

The platypus has to be one of the cutest, oddest, quirkiest animals in the world. Mammals who lay eggs and sport a duck-shaped bill. Does it get any more fun than that?

I was surprised to see during a visit to Australia last year how tiny they are. These animals are precious to Australia.

So when many became endangered during the bushfires late last year, wildlife experts swooped in to save the ones they could. Their regular platypus habitat was no longer a good place for them to survive.

Taronga Zoo scientists explain how they’ve cared for and studied the platypus.

Bush fires brought great danger

Shrinking waterholes meant these special creatures faced certain death. Researchers from the Taronga Conservation Society and University’s NSW’s Centre for Ecosystem Science answered the call for help from ACT Parks and Conservation staff.

The seven were taken to the Taronga Zoo where they’ve been rehabbed and studied.

Looks like this healed up platypus was more than ready to head back into the wild at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in Australia. See the video release below.

These special animals used to be quite common across Eastern Australia. However, now there is fear that they could be extinct in the wild within the next 50 years.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the platypus as “near threatened.”

All the more reason to study, help, and release these animals.

The newly freed animals probably won’t be coming in contact with many humans soon. The nature preserve is one of many national parks in Australia that are currently closed because of coronavirus restrictions.

What’s the plural anyway?

I couldn’t write this story with wondering what is the correct word for more than one platypus?

Wikipedia offers, “Scientists generally use ‘platypuses‘or simply ‘platypus.’ Colloquially, the term ‘platypi’ is also used for the plural, although this is a form of pseudo-Latin; going by the word’s Greek roots the plural would be ‘platypodes.’

Is this the kind of news you like to see?

If you want to stay informed but are struggling with all the bad news reported in traditional media, you might get some good tips from my TEDxTalk, “How To Watch The News And Get Inspired.”