Platypus Population Thrives in Revived Sydney National Park

In 2023, a team of researchers from the University of New South Wales reintroduced 10 platypuses into Sydney's Royal National Park, where the species had been locally extinct since the 1970s due to a chemical spill. Now, two years later, the researchers have made an exciting discovery – they have found two new juvenile platypuses, a rare sighting in the park.

The reintroduction program has been a success so far, with the researchers tracking the platypuses using transmitters and monitoring their progress. They have seen the population grow, with a newborn platypus named Gilli discovered in 2024 and three more adults introduced in May of that year.

However, the platypus population is not without its challenges. Earlier this month, a dead male platypus was found in the park, and the researchers are still investigating the cause of death. They note that the peak mating season can be a "rough period" for male platypuses, as they can exhaust their energy stores while searching for mates or fighting with other males.

Despite these setbacks, the researchers are thrilled with the progress they have made. "That's exciting," said Dr. Gilad Bino, the lead researcher, upon discovering the two new juvenile platypuses. "Oh, give me a hug! That's nice, very cool." The researchers will now run a full genome analysis on the new platypuses to determine their parentage and continue to monitor the population's growth.