They study breeding behavior and platypuses' biology to better understand how they are coping with the effects of climate change.
A platypus on display at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Nov. 22, 2019. This is one of two platypuses that were flown to the U.S. from their home at Australia’s Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is partnering with an Australian zoo to study how climate change is affecting platypuses as a way to save the egg-laying mammal. “They're an important component of the for the health of the ecosystems, the river sheds that, that they inhabit, that are an important animals to just maintaining the health and functions of their natural ecosystem," said Hendrik Nollens, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance vice president of Wildlife Health."They’re a very charismatic animal so they make a great ambassador species.
Much about the platypus's behaviors is unknown, including how many are left in the wild because they are elusive creatures that prefer to burrow in murky waters.According to the zoo, only 23 puggles have been born at zoos since 1943, so the physiological, behavioral and environmental factors that lead to success or failure are unknown.
As part of the program, researchers will also develop a genome resource bank and genetic database to understand and protect wild platypus populations.As a North County multimedia producer, Alexander Nguyen creates content for all of KPBS' platforms, including the web and social media.Burning Man contends with unusually slow ticket salesThe North County Focus newsletter is your bi-weekly guide to all the news coming from North County, plus a handpicked selection of events and trivia tidbits.
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