Rescued platypuses quickly return to normal lives: UNSW research
University of New South Wales
Rescued platypuses quickly return to normal lives: UNSW research
[EMBARGOED|11/08/2026 00:01] Platypuses rescued during severe drought quickly returned to their old routines after being released back into the wild, suggesting emergency rescues can help protect vulnerable populations.
The 2019 drought devastated the platypus population in Tidbinbilla Natsure Reserve near Canberra, killing eight animals and forcing conservationists to rescue the remaining seven.
Five were eventually returned to the wild, but researchers didn't know whether months in captivity would affect their ability to re-establish themselves.
The study followed the platypuses for up to 18 months after they were returned to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve following their five months in temporary care at Taronga Zoo.
The researchers found the animals quickly re-established home ranges, resumed normal movement patterns and settled back into familiar parts of the waterway within days of their release.
Four of the five animals remained in the reserve for between 10 and 18 months after release, suggesting they had successfully re-established themselves.
Lead author A/Prof Gilad Bino said the findings provide important evidence that emergency rescue and return can be an effective conservation tool for platypuses threatened by increasingly frequent and severe droughts.
"As we take a more active role in protecting platypuses, one critical piece of the puzzle is understanding how animals cope with rescue during an environmental crisis and return once conditions improve," A/Prof Bino said.
"Once returned, we found that these five platypuses quickly settled back into familiar areas and resumed the kinds of movement patterns we'd expect from healthy wild animals."
"This research tells us that emergency rescue is a viable tool, meaning we are better prepared for when platypuses need our help in the future."
The tracking data also showed most females repeatedly returned to the same favourite ponds throughout the study, while the lone male ranged more widely, behaviour consistent with natural differences between male and female platypuses.
Researchers also found the animals spent more time in areas rich in aquatic invertebrates such as insects and snails, suggesting they quickly relocated productive feeding habitat after months away.
As climate change drives more frequent and severe droughts across Australia, the researchers say emergency rescue and return could become an increasingly important conservation tool for vulnerable freshwater wildlife.
For information, photographs and interviews contact:
Tom Melville
[email protected]
0432 912 060
-ENDS-
Contact details:
Tom Melville
[email protected]
0432 912 060