Australia platypus conservation centre welcomes first residents

25/7/2024 12:24

        The world's largest platypus conservation centre has welcomed its first residents as part of a project to protect the semi-aquatic mammal found only in Australia amid threats to its habitat from extreme weather and humans.
        
        The four platypuses - two females and two males - were released over the last two weeks into a custom-built research facility at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, about 400 km (250 miles), northwest of Sydney.
        
        Featuring multi-tiered streams, waterfalls, pools and earth banks for burrowing, the facility will help researchers understand more about the species, Taronga Conservation Society Australia official Phoebe Meagher told Reuters.
        
        "This facility will allow us to not only save the species from the immediate threats of climate change, but also in the long term, be able to repopulate those populations," she said.