Platypi back in the swim

AUSSIE Ark saved five platypi from the Australia bushfire crisis and are now releasing them back into the wild. 

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The platypi were found in small muddy pools of water, severely malnourished and their pelts were showing signs of extreme distress.

They were essentially swimming in their own faecal matter and had little to no food available.

“It was heartbreaking to see our unique Platypus suffering, they are such a beautiful species,” said Aussie Ark President Tim Faulkner.

“They were swimming up and down the small water holes they still had left in search of food with nowhere else to go.

“Platypus are notoriously shy, and it is highly unusual for them to be so out in the open like they were, the fires would have driven them to do this.” 

Aussie Ark rescued the platypuses and provided them the necessary veterinary care.

Each waterway the platypus was collected from has been carefully surveyed to establish water quality, abundance of food and disease in preparation for the release. 

“This is the moment we have worked for, these wacky creatures belong in the wild and that is exactly where we want to see them,” said Mr Faulkner.

“Unfortunately, it is just not the case of releasing them back where they came from once the fires died down.

“Waterways suffer so much after fire, the ash, debris and silt run straight into our rivers, choking them.

“We needed to ensure that we were releasing them into an environment that was healthy and recovered.” 

Aussie Ark will continue to monitor the waterways to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the animals and that no further intervention is needed.