Stage one of a new state-of-the-art Australian Platypus Conservation Centre (APCC) has opened at Healesville Sanctuary bolstering capacity to care for the iconic native species.
With the mission to rehabilitate and return sick or injured Platypus to the wild, this $1 million centre includes nine connecting ponds of various depths and water flows, banks for burrowing and crystal clear water. Everything is specifically designed with platypus in mind, so they maintain physical fitness while mimicking wild conditions to encourage natural behaviours.
A four-tied pool can be separated into shallow areas catering for platypuses with a range of health conditions.
The sheltered area includes nest boxes for additional warmth and healing while the ponds are climate-controlled at 18 degrees.
All the internal electrical wiring has been placed up high and shielded to account for electric dipole moment function (EDMF) because platypus locate their prey using a unique sensory system in their bills.
They have two types of receptors in the bill.
Electro which detects tiny electrical currents emitted from muscle contractions from their prey (like a heartbeat), and mechano which can detect movements, vibrations and potentially water pressure.
Researchers are still studying what else their bills can do.
Healesville Sanctuary platypus specialist Dr Jessica Thomas said the centre will allow for life-saving work and continue important research, admitting there is still so much to learn about this elusive monotreme.
“The dedicated research hub is fitted with cameras which means we can observe their behaviour and make sure they are physically fit for the wild,” Dr Thomas said.
“We’ve been testing the waters with one of our resident platypuses called millsom. He came to us 23 years ago as an orphaned nestling and rehabilitation ponds like these could have helped him greatly.”
Recently, the sanctuary has seen a heartbreaking spike in injured platypuses, mainly due to litter entanglement and dog attacks.
“We had five injured wild plats brought to us in one week. We managed to successfully treat four of them which were released back to the wild, but one which was entangled in litter, sadly didn’t make it,” Dr Thomas said.
“I’d encourage anyone who sees rubbish to pick it up, so it doesn’t end up in the creek. Platypuses are naturally curious, so when they check it out, they run into trouble. You can also snip plastic bottle rings, hair ties and rubber bands so they become less of a hazard.
“By being mindful around waterways at dawn and dusk, and walking dogs on a lead can also protect the species.”
Stage two of development will see the visitor experience space completely transformed into a full immersive world of platypus, so people will connect with the species and conserve them into the future.
This project is anticipated to be completed in 2026.
The Australian Platypus Conservation Centre on Wurundjeri Country received $5 million in funding from the Victorian Government in 2022.
Zoos Victoria is grateful to the generous philanthropic donors also supporting this project.
