The platypus, an animal found only in Australia, was reintroduced to the country's oldest national reserve in Sydney on Friday, after disappearing from the area for over half a century, as part of a major project to conserve endangered species.
The reintroduction of the platypus is a collaborative effort between the University of New South Wales, the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the New South Wales government.
Four female platypuses were released on Friday in the Royal National Park, which was established in 1879, making it the second oldest national park in the world.
The platypus, known for its beak, webbed feet, and venomous spur on the side of its foot, is one of only two species of mammals that lay eggs in the world and spends most of its time in the water at night.
Due to its natural inclination towards solitude and its specific habitat requirements, most Australians have never seen a platypus in the wild.
No confirmed sightings of the platypus in the reserve have been reported since the 1970s. There is significant variation in current estimates of the platypus population, ranging from 30,000 to around 300,000.
