![]() Temperatures above 30☌ (86☏) are lethal (Grant 2015).Air and water temperatures higher than 27☌ (80☏) should be avoided (Booth and Connolly 2008).Become accustomed to individual keepers.Platypuses respond well to routines in their daily care (Jackson 2003).Handling, in general, should be kept to a minimum (Jackson 2003).Can be handled safely only by grasping the top side of the tail, with arm and all body parts well clear of platypus’ body (Booth and Connolly 2008 Grant 2015).Due to presence of venomous spurs, handling of male platypuses requires safety precautions (Grant 2015).Before that, last platypus exported from Australia in 1958 (Cushing and Markwell 2009 Jessica Thomas, personal communication, 2018).Pair exported to San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 2019 (SDZG Public Relations 2019).Rarely exported from Australia (Cushing and Markwell 2009).Underfeeding, over-handling, and stress (e.g., due to noise, vibrations, temperature fluctuations) can result in illness and death (Jackson 2003 McColl 1983 Cushing and Markwell 2009).Not widely collected-very difficult to keep in managed care settings (Whittington 1993b Cushing and Markwell 2009).First export of platypuses from Australia since 1958.Millsberg Platypus Habitat in Walkabout Australia (Safari Park) 2019: San Diego Zoo Safari Park receives 2 platypuses, Eve and Birra, from Sydney's Taronga Zoo (San Diego Zoo Global Public Relations 2019).1958: David Fleay delivered three more platypuses (by air) to the Bronx Zoo (Cushing and Markwell 2009).Visits by the public continued for years (Cushing and Markwell 2009).Received immense media attention (Cushing and Markwell 2009).Truman (see discussion by Cushing and Markwell 2009) Designated as a gift to President Harry S.1947: David Fleay transported three platypuses (“Betty,” “Penelope,” and “Cecil”) by ship from Australia for exhibition at the Bronx Zoo (Fleay 1958 Crandall 1964).Next captive breeding did not occur until 1999 (Cushing and Markwell 2009).“Jill” (female), “Jack” (male), and "Corry” (young) garnered international media and public attention, even in the midst of war.1944: first breeding in managed care by David Fleay (then Director at Healesville Sanctuary) (Fleay 1944a Fleay 1944b Sharpe 1994a Hawkins and Battaglia 2009, except as noted).Winston Churchill was sent a live platypus (died en-route due to malnutrition), as well as the preserved, mounted remains of “Splash”.1943-1947: Australian Government used live platypuses as diplomatic gifts to allied nations during WWII (Cushing and Markwell 2009).1937: David Fleay began keeping female platypus “Barwon” at Melbourne Zoo (Crandall 1964).Helped to advance husbandry knowledge of this species (Fleay 1944a). ![]() Lived longer than previous platypuses in managed care established longer viability for this species.1933-1937: Robert Eadie was keeper of “Splash,” a platypus that became especially popular with public audiences (Crandall 1964 Sharpe 1994b, except as noted).1932: first platypus acquired (Sharpe 1994b).1932-37: Platypuses at Healesville Sanctuary.Survived only six weeks (Cushing and Markwell 2009).Thought to be the first export of a platypus from Australia (Cushing and Markwell 2009).1922: First live platypus exhibited outside Australia at Bronx Zoo (New York Zoological Park) (Barrett 1941 Bridges, undated).Also see “ History” in Cultural History.Burrell’s work provided a foundation for later husbandry and transport efforts (Crandall 1964).1910: Resulted in first public exhibition of a platypus in a zoo (Moore Park/Sydney Zoological Gardens) (Barrett 1941 Cushing and Markwell 2009).Water tank for swimming and feeding, ledges out of water for resting, wooden tunnels to dry fur and burrow.Innovative in managed care of the platypus.Designed a portable artificial habitat called the “platypusary”.Burrell’s first efforts to keep platypuses in managed care (Burrell 1927 Crandall 1964 Moyal 2001) ![]()
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