![]() Platypuses can be difficult to see, both in the wild and in a zoological setting, so being able to get a glimpse of these elusive, busy animals is a rare and special experience. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is currently the only zoo outside of Australia to house platypuses. The two platypuses featured on the cam-an 8-year-old male named Birrarung and a 15-year-old female named Eve-serve as ambassadors for the species outside of their native Australia. “Platypus Cam is the newest addition to San Diego Zoo Global’s We’re Here Together Campaign, which invites guests from around the world to stay connected to their favorite animals and species through a wealth of free online content, entertainment and educational tools.” Guests at home can view livestreaming video from the platypus habitat at /platypus-cam. “San Diego Zoo Global is grateful for Nintendo’s support of Platypus Cam, adding to the many ways our guests engage with wildlife during these trying times,” said Ted Molter, chief marketing officer of San Diego Zoo Global. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons game is available on the Nintendo Switch system and invites players of all ages to create their own island paradise while making friends with charming animal residents in the process. The all-new Platypus Cam presented by the Animal Crossing™: New Horizons game provides livestreaming video of the Safari Park’s platypus pair as they swim and frolic in their world-class habitat-including three pools, naturalistic river banks, extensive tunnels and nesting areas. ![]() They hope that data allows them to effectively protect the species from becoming more endangered in the future.While the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is temporarily closed to on-grounds visitors due to COVID-19 restrictions, online guests can now visit the platypuses at the Safari Park’s Walkabout Australia on their smartphone or computer. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species recently changed the status of the platypus from a "species of least concern" to "near threatened."Īustralian researchers say the eDNA study helps them determine the impacts of environmental threats like land use, altered water flow, and habitat degradation where platypus populations are detected. The "eDNA" method is helping scientists determine the presence of the generally shy, nocturnal species. Part of the challenge for researchers is investigating dry conditions found throughout the country. ![]() RELATED: Historic in vitro southern white rhino birth is first for San Diego Zoo, in the U.S. For instance, higher platypus occurrence is associated with native vegetation cover, high in-stream complexity (providing good habitat for macroinvertebrates) and suitable burrowing habitat.” “Although it is still too early to draw many conclusions from this raw data, some trends are emerging. “Overall, platypuses were detected at 38 percent of sites sampled in Victoria and 32 percent of those in New South Wales,” said Josh Griffiths, a senior wildlife ecologist. In San Diego, the zoo says they will be ambassadors for the species outside of their native Australia and advocate the "importance of freshwater for both humans and wildlife."Īustralian conservationists have been working to determine the status of the animal in the wild using environmental DNA, or trace DNA found in their habitats. Platypuses are semi-aquatic animals that live in freshwater habitats. RELATED: San Diego Zoo's endangered tree kangaroo joey emerges from mother's pouch Here the two animals will live in the Safari Park's Walkabout Australia habitat, where a special home has been constructed for them. The animals were flown to San Diego in crates specially designed for platypuses, according to San Diego Zoo Global. The zoo recently received the two platypuses - a male named Birrarung that hatched in 2011 and female named Eve that hatched in 2004 - from Taronga Zoo Sydney. SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - The world's only two platypuses to live outside of Australia now call the San Diego Zoo Safari Park home.
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