Tummy Tickles for a Cause, One Special Little Girl's Innadvertent Mission

There's no way to really know if a solo little female platypus was scared when she was washed away from her home and nearly drowned just over 2 years ago but she definately had no idea that she was about to be one special little orphaned girl. She was found by some people and brought to Healsville Wildlife Sanctuary to be rehabilitated. Part of rehabilitating animals is play and social contact. This particular little platypus was very keen on her people time, much more so than most of the other animals that call this place home. Like so many wonderful new experiences, this one little platypus named Yami birthed the opportunity for people to have a one-on-one hands on understanding of these bizarre and uniquely Australian creatures.

Added to the serendipedous nature of this morning of sheer joy and excitement, I came to enjoy Yami's special charm as a result of my mother finding a small link on the Sanctuary website and gifting me the chance to do it for my birthday a few months ago. Here are a species that while alive and well, are illusive and secretive even to the locals and my mother found a way for me to pet, tickle, laugh, & splash with one from the other side of the world!

It is quite easy to see why original British naturalists thought this animal was a hoax and even the local Wurundjeri stories know Dulaiwurrong as the result of an unholy union between a water rat and wood duck to be hidden away in shame. But lets not forget the Aussie spirit of supporting the underdog or misunderstood little monotreme in this case! I challenge anyone who spends time with Yami not to leave with a huge smile and strong understanding of why we must support proper use of these limited freshwater resources.

Click for Video

So what's a platypus feel like? If Yami is the norm, the overarching feeling is of softness. She darts around the little waist deep pool with swiftness and curiousity looking for food and cuddles. Yes, you read that, cuddles. Now I know what you're thinking "That's in your head. No way she asks for belly rubs like an aquatic egg laying puppy dog"  but there is no way to misread this behavior. The visitors don't feed her, the only motivation is entirely her own. The first part she most likely greets you with is her bill, soft, gummy, and her primary tool. She polks, prods, and even nibbles your hands, arms, and maybe even your neck if you're lucky enough to find her scaling you quite agilely (until she slides down your back). It doesn't feel like a bird bill and is a good bit softer than I was expecting. Her fur texture varies between her head, back, tail, and belly. The belly being the second softest part of her. When she wants belly rubs she swims up to you, spirals around and holds out her tummy as close to your hand as she can. As it turns out, platypuses also have a sweet spot on their bellies that trigger a back foot twitch when stimulated. Kittens and pandas watch out, you have competition for darned cute moments. I'm doing my best to relate the experience here but it doesn't begin to do it justice. If you possibly can, you just need to experience this yourself.

While its never ideal to take a wild animal out of their home area, this is one of those resounding success stories. Little outgoing Yami has appeared to have volunteered to spread the message of her species and all they rely on, healthy, naturally flowing waterways, the need to stop and look deeper, and above all a reminder that rules are made to be broken and enjoyed whether you're an egg laying mammal with an outgoing personality or just another person spending a day at the zoo.




For further information:
http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/wild-encounters/wade-with-the-platypus

Just another Monday in Darwin: My dip in the Cage of Death

It took a little getting used to but once I got comfortable with the feeling of being suspended in a big, plastic cylinder I could start to mentally process the fact that I was mere inches away from a three meter long salt water crocodile. The only thing keeping the peace was about one inch (about 2.5 cm) of plastic, yes plastic, attached to some chains and pulleys. After the first two chickens, Houdini circled me once and initiated a staring contest. I know he was probably sizing me up for taste and tear-ability but all we could do was float there eyes locked in visceral thought. I gazed into this captive prehistoric killing machine's eyes for what felt like five minutes until the next chook on a stick came out. At that point, the sheer size of this reptilian powerhouse's body, tail, legs, head, and jaws were fully comprehended.

It was some of the most perplexing excitement I've ever experienced. While I logically appreciated salties from seeing them in the wild and various zoos, always from afar, now my perception of them will never be the same. I will equate them with the hundreds of pounds of eerily placid creature inches from my face, my hands, my heart looking at me like either a morning snack or just another random intruder but situation regardless, we shared that brief time and space.

He could have put up opposition to my presence or even just ignored me, but he did neither. I did not have the power of the feeding stick and he knew that. Still, he peered into that box with curious intent. I'll take that compliment. Call me crazy, many do, but I say any attention you receive from a massive living dinosaur, that doesn't end in fatalities or limbs lost, is a learning experience worth treasuring.