SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is home to the only platypus outside of Australia, which makes the wildlife alliance the perfect partners for the Taronga Zoo's platypus conservation project.
Dr. Hendrick Nollens said having the platypuses in San Diego is a massive privilege.
"With that privilege means a responsibility to give back to the animals, contribute our understanding our knowledge, data, samples access to the animals to help them conserve platypus in the wild," said Nollens.
After the Australian wildfires in 2019, the Taronga zoo realized there was no place in Australia for platypus rescue.
"Platypus is tremendously important for the health of its eco systems, the watershed the rivers, they keep these systems healthy," said Nollens.
So Taronga Zoo sprang into action, creating not only a rescue facility but a conservation project.
"To our knowledge this is the worlds first truly dedicated program to understanding the protection going forward of the platypus population in Australia," said Nollens.
While Taronga is working on rescue and rehabilitation, San Diego is pitching in some help in the science component of this program.
"Our whole team is in support of this, we have an extensive wildlife health, conservation science, wildlife care team with a lot of knowledge, and any of them can help in this work," said Nollens.
Their research will help the Taronga Zoo understand the genetics of the animals, the conditions needed to release them back safely into the wild, and San Diego is excited to help.
"It's excellent work, it's conservation at it's finest and most tangible so we're very proud to be part of this initiative," said Nollens.
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