The_UltimateBea
Well-Known Member
I have taken pictures of Platypus Pond under construction and I will post when I have a chance.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park Platypus at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
They already started construction! This just keeps getting better and better. Please upload when you get the opportunity.
There was one pair at Healesville which survived well, and which produced a baby in 1943. That's it. Not many Platypus were kept in artificial conditions anywhere in Australia, and very few lived more than a few months. It wasn't until much more recently (within the last thirty years or so) that their husbandry has become more secure, with even second-generation births occurring.
When I was at Healesville in 2017 the keepers said in the presentation that most of the babies there have been born in the last decade. They seem to have cracked the problems with their husbandry.
Your information is not correct. One platypus in the Bronx Zoo lived 10 years. Her mate lived 12 years. Here are some details: Flashback: Platypuses at The Bronx Zoo
The_UltimateBea
Well-Known Member
The files were too large to upload so I created a Google photos library.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/izpFqO6ZXJLdnmKA3
https://photos.app.goo.gl/izpFqO6ZXJLdnmKA3
Cool. I'm picking it'll be something like the Platypus house at Healesville.
This is great news indeed. And it looks like it will open this summer. I believe the rest of Outback Australia (or whatever it's called) is opening this weekend for the big Memorial Day holiday (for those outside USA this is the last Monday in May and signals for Americans the start of the summer vacation season). So the Platypus Pond will not be open with the rest of the exhibit, but pretty soon afterwards.
TheEthiopianWolf03
Well-Known Member
YES! I don’t have to Australia to see a platypus (although I can name a handful of reasons why I need to go besides seeing a platypus). All I need to do is drive for 8-10 hours! This is huge news!
Two of those early Bronx animals lived a normal life span, and even showed some breeding behaviour.
This is great! Just gave me another reason to visit San Diego!
This is awesome. I hope they will be on display in time for my trip to San Diego at the end of October!
How many will they get? two or more?
I think I read on their site that they are getting two.
If the zoo does successfully get the platypus, I know I will definitely be getting my behind over there to see them.
If San Diego Zoo Safari Park does successfully take care of these platypus, what would this mean for other zoos? Will they also try to bring in platypus and start an American breeding project for the species?
If San Diego Zoo Safari Park does successfully take care of these platypus, what would this mean for other zoos? Will they also try to bring in platypus and start an American breeding project for the species?
Probably nothing much as I do believe it is a one-off loan.
We' ll see. It could start as one-off loan and then slowly transform to starting point of platypus breeding programme out of Australia. It´ll also depend on willingnes of other zoos to invest in this and take the risk.