Sure, Doug.


Over in Japan, at the World Expo, the platypus is being revered as a beautiful animal, whilst in its homeland - Australia - it is being destroyed (i.e. at Maleny)
Here are some excerpts from the various W/E sites :

"The Platypus has existed in its current form for more than 65,000 years on Earth, and is an animal whose existence relies on its fragile eco-system being preserved."

" ... visitors meet the star of the Australian pavilion, an 11-meter-long model of a platypus on a riverbank. The platypus was chosen because it existed 65,000 years ago and has remained largely unchanged since that time. It is a small, sensitive creature that requires a clean environment in order to survive. With the cleanup of our riverways, its numbers are starting to grow again. The message here is that by caring about all of our creatures we provide the environment for safe and sustainable development in the future... "

Along with the Echidna, they are the only monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, on earth.

They can't just move along to any old creek or river bank. It has to be fresh water and relatively slow moving. The soil has to be the right type and consistency for their extensive system of burrows (the egg-carrying female also builds long, breeding burrows). Chances are that the suitable locations are already housing platypus. They also have a tendancy to being solitary, which further reduces their homesites (though several can live in close proximity).



So Doug, when your home is removed by "eminant domain", with little or no compensation, you'll just easy find somewhere else, right?



Cheers! R-J