Platypus Spotting in Australia

Location: Australia

Recommended by Margarita of The Wildlife Diaries

How do I know it’s ethical?

Watching platypus in the wild happens on platypus’ turf and on platypus’ terms. This is why platypus is generally quite tricky to spot. It is a nocturnal aquatic mammal that can occasionally be seen foraging on aquatic vertebrates at dawn and dusk. But in Tasmanian Arboretum, you can watch platypus in broad daylight at a relatively close range. 

A few years ago, some wild platypus traveled up a creek that runs through the Arboretum and settled in Founders Lake. There must be a lot of food in the lake for so many platypus to choose it as their home. And it is probably this abundance of food and lack of predators that make the animals so at ease that they remain active throughout the day. The reeds growing along the lakeshore separate terrestrial humans from the aquatic domain of the platypus, so you can watch the animals without disturbing them. Not that the Arboretum gets many visitors to start with. 

Description of the Experience

As an egg-laying mammal with a body of an otter, a bill of a duck, and a tail of a beaver, platypus is one of the oddest Australian animals. And seeing one in daylight lets you appreciate just how odd and cute the little creature is. There is a little island in the middle of Founders Lake that seems to be their ‘home base’ where their burrows must be located. All you have to do is keep your eyes on the water for any signs of activity, mostly ripples created by the swimming animals. 

Watching platypus is similar to watching whales: you spot them on the surface, watch them dive, and then try to anticipate where they are going to emerge. It’s even easier when you have several animals in a relatively small area. Don’t be surprised to see two or three platypus active at the same time. Quite often, they swim all the way up to the reeds, and you can see them exceptionally well. 

Another good spot to look for them is in the creek that feeds the lake. The water is much shallower in the creek, so even as the platypus feeds on the bottom, you can still see it on the surface. And if you stay with the animal, you can watch it swim under the little wooden bridge, practically under your feet, as it paddles back to the lake. So if you ever wanted to see a wild platypus up-close-and-personal, Tasmanian Arboretum is the place. 

Fun Fact: The plural form of platypus is platypus in the scientific convention, but platypi and platypuses and both accepted.

Company/ Cost: 

Tasmanian Arboretum is a not-for-profit organisation located in Eugenana, 12 kilometres south of Devonport. The entry is by $5 donation. If you don’t carry cash, you can pay via the arboretum website. 

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This is one post on a series of ethical animal tourism posts by travel content creators. The experiences cover all seven continents and a variety of animals. Ensure that your animal experience is an ethical one.

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