HOW DO CAPTIVE PLATYPUS RESPOND TO VISITOR ENCOUNTERS AND ENRICHMENT?

Healesville Sanctuary began keeping Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in 1933. There have been many improvements to their husbandry since then. Today, our Platypus have large tanks, receive enrichment to improve the quality of their life and are conditioned for a limited number of ‘behind-the-scenes' experiences (where people can interact with a Platypus up-close).

Ms Jessica Thomas, Platypus keeper at Healesville Sanctuary, is conducting a study at Healesville Sanctuary and Melbourne Zoo to evaluate the captive Platypus' responses to enrichment and ‘behind-the-scenes' experiences. This is important for the Platypus' health and safety, and allows us to determine the programs' effects on the wellbeing of our captive Platypus.

AIMS

This project will allow us to determine the current wellbeing of the Platypus and whether they are prone to stereotypical (repetitive negative) behaviour. By intensively monitoring the way the Platypus interact with the enrichments provided, we will gain a better understanding of these animals and so be able to further improve our current husbandry practices.

METHODS

1 - Behind-the-scenes encounters: The behaviour of each Platypus during keeper handling is recorded for 10 minutes. Two Friends of the Zoo (FOTZ) guides are present for this encounter. After the encounter is finished, each Platypus is monitored for a further 10 minutes in the water to see if it shows any negative behaviours.

2 - Enrichment: The behaviour of each platypus is monitored for 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon in order to determine how they respond to enrichment items, including: 

• Food enrichments - special treats to increase their foraging behaviour.
• Object enrichments - ‘toys' to encourage the platypus to focus on a single task like climbing or pushing.
• Change of environment - Rotation of platypus through the different tanks to promote exploratory behaviour.

RESULTS

The data for this project is still being collected.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON:

- on this research project - click here to email Ms Jessica Thomas (Principal Investigator).

- Platypus at Healesville Sanctuary - click here.