Seeing duck-billed platypus in the wild in Australia?
Jan 8, 2015, 4:14 pm
#1
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Seeing duck-billed platypus in the wild in Australia?
Planning to come to Australia at the back end of the year (Sept/Oct/Nov). Would dearly love to see wild duck-billed platypus (I know there are some in zoos as a "seeing a live one" fall back position). I've had a quick google and there doesn't seem a lot of info on 'where to go to watch them' - some accommodation offers platypus viewing as an attraction.
Anyone any hints/tips/advice? Thanks.
Anyone any hints/tips/advice? Thanks.
Jan 8, 2015, 6:44 pm
#2
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Very hard to see in the wild
Near Melbourne is http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/animals/platypus
Near Melbourne is http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/animals/platypus
Jan 8, 2015, 6:48 pm
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Possibly this
http://platypustours.net.au/
http://platypustours.net.au/platypustours.htm
Nearest large city in Melbourne
http://platypustours.net.au/
http://platypustours.net.au/platypustours.htm
Nearest large city in Melbourne
Jan 8, 2015, 6:48 pm
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I'm following this thread with interest because I would also love to see them in the wild, but a platypus is nocturnal and mostly lives under water.
You can actually see them in Taronga zoo due to the glass walled aquarium; Might be hard to see in the wild.
edit - thank you to those for suggesting Otway!
You can actually see them in Taronga zoo due to the glass walled aquarium; Might be hard to see in the wild.
edit - thank you to those for suggesting Otway!
Last edited by DirtyDan; Jan 8, 2015 at 6:50 pm Reason: Thanks
Jan 8, 2015, 7:22 pm
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Yeah, but if you don't try, you definitely won't see! I'm a birdwatcher and ecologist, so the fact it's difficult doesn't really deter me. Just knows it will be all the sweeter if I do see any!
Jan 8, 2015, 7:34 pm
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We tried for many years and finally got lucky on a trip down to Tasmania. We were camping at the Wayatinah Lakeside Caravan Park http://www.wayatinah.net/ about an hour out of Hobart.. They had free loaner canoes.. We paddled out to a wooded rocky shore and there they were!
Awesome time!
Awesome time!
Jan 8, 2015, 9:21 pm
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Jan 9, 2015, 2:16 am
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Thanks very much guys - since we have to go to Melbourne to drink the coffee (apparently it's rather good, so I hear 
) looks like the platypus tours place is top of the list.
) looks like the platypus tours place is top of the list.
Jan 10, 2015, 5:17 am
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Jan 11, 2015, 6:33 am
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