Swimming below the surface of freshwater rivers and streams is an iconic symbol of Australian wildlife. Upon first glance, they may seem unusual. With furry coats and webbed feet, these venomous, egg-laying mammals are famously one-of-a-kind. Often confused with beavers, ducks, and other wildlife, platypuses fit into a category all their own, and their place in the Australian ecosystem is equally unique.

Platypuses are also notoriously elusive, so there’s still much to learn about this mysterious species. As threats against them, including fires and climate change, continue to increase, gaining a better understanding of the species and how they use their ecosystems is more critical than ever.

With the support of allies like you, we’re collaborating with Taronga Conservation Society Australia and their on-the-ground efforts at the new Platypus Rescue HQ. Through this powerful partnership, we’re continuing to learn about the biology of this species and what they need to thrive in their native habitat.

The First of Its Kind

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to platypuses. It leads to increasingly severe and frequent weather events, including megafires, flooding, and storms. Platypus Rescue HQ is stepping in to lead revolutionary conservation efforts to protect them.

This center, located at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Australia, is the world’s largest and most advanced conservation facility of its kind. Teams adapt known practices to protect platypuses in their native ranges, learn when to intervene and rescue struggling animals, and develop ways to increase populations in the future. With room to rescue, rehabilitate, and release back into freshwater habitats, Platypus Rescue HQ plays a leading role in saving this species.

A Safe Haven

Platypuses are semiaquatic. Following the devastating megafires that swept through Australia in 2019 and 2020, waterways were filled with ash and debris, which suffocated these freshwater ecosystems and made them uninhabitable.

During times of disaster, Platypus Rescue HQ offers emergency habitats for up to 65 temporarily relocated platypuses. They’ll be able to live safely and comfortably here until they can return to native ecosystems.

Puggles Ahead

In an effort to increase populations and safeguard the future of this threatened species, conservation scientists are developing a conservation reproduction program. Veterinary teams use routine examinations and advanced diagnostic imaging to ensure platypuses are healthy and thriving. When ready, individuals are introduced to one another in hopes that nature will take its course, resulting in baby platypuses, called puggles.

Partners in Protection

A secretive and nocturnal species, platypuses have traditionally been difficult to study in their native ranges. That makes it even more important for experts to work together and exchange what they know.

Conservation scientists at Platypus Rescue HQ are looking at how individuals react to fluctuations in their environments—with a little help from teams 7,500 miles away. At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, we have the honor and responsibility of caring for the only two platypuses outside of Australia, Eve and Birra. Wildlife care specialists from the Safari Park spent months training in Australia with teams from Taronga Zoo to prepare for the platypuses’ arrival in San Diego. Since then, they’ve held frequent “platty chatty” virtual meetings, and together they’re sharing knowledge that’s helping devise long-term, sustainable strategies for platypus conservation across Australia.

As we look ahead to the future of platypus conservation through our Australian Forest Conservation Hub, support from allies like you is helping find solutions and make discoveries that will save this special species during crises. With your help, platypuses—and the ways we can protect them—become a little less mysterious.