Duck-billing Out?

The Duck-billed platypus has been around for about 120 million years. This egg-laying (it's one of only 3 surviving species of Monotremes) Mammal uniquely has a protective poison claw. Platypuses essentially spend their time paddling around in streams and creeks, feeding on bivalves and other invertebrates. This endearingly odd beast (it was thought to be a hoax by some Victorians), used to be very widespread in Australia. It now seems to be endangered by a combination of damage to waterways, land clearance (often for house building) and climate change. Feral cats and foxes also sometimes take platypuses, when they emerge on to land. As they are extremely elusive, they are difficult to spot. This makes surveying their distribution very difficult. Consequently, around Bribane's creeks, water samples have been checked for platypus DNA ( https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/09/glum-future-for-the-platypus-why-the-elusive-mammal-is-disappearing-under-our-noses). The DNA, when it is found, is derived from platypus urine and faeces. The results obtained confirm that this unique, ancient Mammal is undergoing local extinctions. Save the platypus!