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    HomeGalleries- StoriesFeature Stories

    Footprints in the Water72

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    With the bill and webbed feet of a duck, broad flat tail of a beaver, and a furry body that closely resembles that of a mole, the platypus is so bizarre that British scientists first thought it was a hoax - stitched together by fraudsters. It is one of only a few mammals that produce venom, and - together with echidnas - it forms a unique branch of egg-laying mammals called monotremes.

    Despite what we know about the biological quirks of platypuses, they are so elusive and difficult to track down that we still don't have a solid grasp of their abundance or distribution. However, that is beginning to change.

    Doug Gimesy's exceptionally rare images reveal how citizen science and environmental DNA analysis are opening up new worlds of information about one of our planet’s most unique (and baffling) species.

    Download our full story PDF, including text, here.

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    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), released onto a log in Little Yarra River, Yarra junction, Victoria, Australia. Photographed under controlled conditions. April 2018.
    01614265
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), released onto a log in Little Yarra River, Yarra junction, Victoria, Australia. Photographed under controlled conditions. April 2018.
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) just released onto a log in Little Yarra River, Yarra Junction, Victoria, Australia. April 2018. Controlled conditions.
    01614269
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) just released onto a log in Little Yarra River, Yarra Junction, Victoria, Australia. April 2018. Controlled conditions.
    Doug Gimesy / Winter evening fog rises above a slow moving section of the Mitta Mitta River - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) habitat - Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia, May 2018.
    01614203
    Doug Gimesy / Winter evening fog rises above a slow moving section of the Mitta Mitta River - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) habitat - Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia, May 2018.
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher checking fyke nets for platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) that were set up to capture and help monitor the local population. Beaconsfield, Victoria, Australia. June 2017. Model...
    01614220
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher checking fyke nets for platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) that were set up to capture and help monitor the local population. Beaconsfield, Victoria, Australia. June 2017. Model...
    Doug Gimesy / Patypus researcher from retrieving a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from a Fyke net that was set up to capture and help monitor the local population. Upper Tarago River, Neerim, Victoria, Austr...
    01614219
    Doug Gimesy / Patypus researcher from retrieving a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from a Fyke net that was set up to capture and help monitor the local population. Upper Tarago River, Neerim, Victoria, Austr...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher retrieves a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from a net that was set up to capture and help monitor the local population. Chum Creek, Healsville, Victoria, Australia. May, 201...
    01614175
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher retrieves a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from a net that was set up to capture and help monitor the local population. Chum Creek, Healsville, Victoria, Australia. May, 201...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher retrieving a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from a net that was set up just 1 hour earlier to capture and help monitor the local population. Chum Creek, Healsville, Victoria,...
    01614224
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher retrieving a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from a net that was set up just 1 hour earlier to capture and help monitor the local population. Chum Creek, Healsville, Victoria,...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researchers holding a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) whilst field assistant measures the bill length. It was captured as part of a Melbourne Water study to monitor the local population....
    01614172
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researchers holding a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) whilst field assistant measures the bill length. It was captured as part of a Melbourne Water study to monitor the local population....
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher holding a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) whilst field assistant measures the bill length. It was captured as part of a Melbourne Water study to monitor the local population. C...
    01614279
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher holding a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) whilst field assistant measures the bill length. It was captured as part of a Melbourne Water study to monitor the local population. C...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researchers holding a Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) which was captured as part of a Melbourne Water study to monitor the local population. Chum Creek, Healsville, Victoria, Australia. M...
    01614169
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researchers holding a Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) which was captured as part of a Melbourne Water study to monitor the local population. Chum Creek, Healsville, Victoria, Australia. M...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher holding a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) whilst field assistant measured bill length. It was captured as part of a Melbourne Water study to monitor the local population. Chum...
    01614197
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher holding a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) whilst field assistant measured bill length. It was captured as part of a Melbourne Water study to monitor the local population. Chum...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researchers taking a small skin sample is from the webbing between the toes of a Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). Chum Creek, Healsville, Victoria, Australia. May, 2017.Model released.
    01614195
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researchers taking a small skin sample is from the webbing between the toes of a Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). Chum Creek, Healsville, Victoria, Australia. May, 2017.Model released.
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researcher taking cheek pouch samples from an anaesthetized platypus, Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. ~Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018. Model release...
    01614229
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researcher taking cheek pouch samples from an anaesthetized platypus, Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. ~Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018. Model release...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher weighing Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Warburton, Victoria, Australia. October, 2018. Model released.
    01614271
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher weighing Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Warburton, Victoria, Australia. October, 2018. Model released.
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus ecologist returning a male platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) to a creek where it had been captured just 30 minutes earlier. Chum Creek, Healsville, Victoria, Australia. May 2017.Model rele...
    01614217
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus ecologist returning a male platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) to a creek where it had been captured just 30 minutes earlier. Chum Creek, Healsville, Victoria, Australia. May 2017.Model rele...
    Doug Gimesy / Researchers keeping warm by a fire next to the Mitta Mitta river, whilst monitoring gill nets which have been placed in the river to capture Platypus (Ornithornychus anatinus). Mitta Mitta River, Dart...
    01614213
    Doug Gimesy / Researchers keeping warm by a fire next to the Mitta Mitta river, whilst monitoring gill nets which have been placed in the river to capture Platypus (Ornithornychus anatinus). Mitta Mitta River, Dart...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researcher setting platypus catching Fyke nets in the late afternoon in the Little Yarra River, Yarra Junction, Victoria, Australia. April, 2018. Model released
    01614287
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researcher setting platypus catching Fyke nets in the late afternoon in the Little Yarra River, Yarra Junction, Victoria, Australia. April, 2018. Model released
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researcher setting platypus catching fyke nets in the late afternoon in the Little Yarra River, Yarra Junction, Victoria, Australia
    01614288
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researcher setting platypus catching fyke nets in the late afternoon in the Little Yarra River, Yarra Junction, Victoria, Australia
    Doug Gimesy / Researcher and assistant set up Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) catching fyke nets with assistant. Upper Bunyip River, Bunyip State Park, Victoria, Australia. April, 2018. Model released
    01614227
    Doug Gimesy / Researcher and assistant set up Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) catching fyke nets with assistant. Upper Bunyip River, Bunyip State Park, Victoria, Australia. April, 2018. Model released
    Doug Gimesy / Researchers with fyke nets to capture Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) at Cardinia Creek, Beaconsfield, Victoria, Australia. These nets ar set up before dusk and then are checked every 3-4 hours un...
    01614225
    Doug Gimesy / Researchers with fyke nets to capture Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) at Cardinia Creek, Beaconsfield, Victoria, Australia. These nets ar set up before dusk and then are checked every 3-4 hours un...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researchers preparing radio receivers to be placed into the river and help track the movement of platypus which have had transponders attached. Dalgety, NSW, Austra...
    01614291
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researchers preparing radio receivers to be placed into the river and help track the movement of platypus which have had transponders attached. Dalgety, NSW, Austra...
    Doug Gimesy / Scientist about to bang star picket stakes into rivers to which a fyke net will be secured. This net will then used to try and capture Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Mitta Mitta River, Dartmouth,...
    01614261
    Doug Gimesy / Scientist about to bang star picket stakes into rivers to which a fyke net will be secured. This net will then used to try and capture Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Mitta Mitta River, Dartmouth,...
    Doug Gimesy / Freshwater ecologist banging a star picket stake into the river to which a Fyke net will be secured. This net will then used to try and capture platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) for research, Mitta...
    01614178
    Doug Gimesy / Freshwater ecologist banging a star picket stake into the river to which a Fyke net will be secured. This net will then used to try and capture platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) for research, Mitta...
    Doug Gimesy / Field volunteer Grant Purcell shows how to place a weighted radio receiver into a river to help track the movement of platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) which have had transponders attached. Mitta Mi...
    01614246
    Doug Gimesy / Field volunteer Grant Purcell shows how to place a weighted radio receiver into a river to help track the movement of platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) which have had transponders attached. Mitta Mi...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher holding a young female Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) just before releasing it back into a stream. Warburton, Victoria, Australia. October, 2018. Model release supplied.
    01614177
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher holding a young female Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) just before releasing it back into a stream. Warburton, Victoria, Australia. October, 2018. Model release supplied.
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher retrieving a Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from a Fyke net that was set up to capture and help monitor the local population. McMahons Creek, Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia...
    01614184
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher retrieving a Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from a Fyke net that was set up to capture and help monitor the local population. McMahons Creek, Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia...
    Doug Gimesy / Young Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) released onto a log in McMahons Creek, Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia. Controlled conditions . September.
    01614185
    Doug Gimesy / Young Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) released onto a log in McMahons Creek, Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia. Controlled conditions . September.
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) just released onto a log in Little Yarra River, Yarra junction, Victoria, Australia. April 2018. Controlled conditions.
    01614252
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) just released onto a log in Little Yarra River, Yarra junction, Victoria, Australia. April 2018. Controlled conditions.
    Doug Gimesy / Gill nets placed in the Snowy river to capture, examine, take measurements and place tracking devices on Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Snowy River, Jindabyne, NSW, Australia. September, 2017.
    01614259
    Doug Gimesy / Gill nets placed in the Snowy river to capture, examine, take measurements and place tracking devices on Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Snowy River, Jindabyne, NSW, Australia. September, 2017.
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researchers placing gill nets in the Mitta Mitta River to capture platypus. Mitta Mitta River, Darmouth, Victoria, Australia. May, 2018. Model released.
    01614272
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researchers placing gill nets in the Mitta Mitta River to capture platypus. Mitta Mitta River, Darmouth, Victoria, Australia. May, 2018. Model released.
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researchers placing gill nets in the Snowy river. Mitta Mitta River, Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May, 2018. Model released.
    01614262
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researchers placing gill nets in the Snowy river. Mitta Mitta River, Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May, 2018. Model released.
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) gliding quietly in the early morning light on Lake Elizabeth, Great Otway National Park, near Forrest, Victoria, Australia, September 2018.
    01614205
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) gliding quietly in the early morning light on Lake Elizabeth, Great Otway National Park, near Forrest, Victoria, Australia, September 2018.
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researcher cleaning and untangling gill nets. Rangers station, Thredbo, NSW, Australia
    01614189
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researcher cleaning and untangling gill nets. Rangers station, Thredbo, NSW, Australia
    Doug Gimesy / Researcher holding a Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) which is recovering from an in-field anesthetic. It was anaesthetised to allow a radio transponder to be glued to its tail - allowing researche...
    01614278
    Doug Gimesy / Researcher holding a Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) which is recovering from an in-field anesthetic. It was anaesthetised to allow a radio transponder to be glued to its tail - allowing researche...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher returning a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) back into the creek where it had been captured just 30 minutes earlier. Woori Yallock Creek, Monbulk, Victoria, Australia. May, 2018...
    01614282
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus researcher returning a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) back into the creek where it had been captured just 30 minutes earlier. Woori Yallock Creek, Monbulk, Victoria, Australia. May, 2018...
    Doug Gimesy / Two researchers rowing into the middle of the Snowy River to collect a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from the gill net they had set hours before. Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. September...
    01614274
    Doug Gimesy / Two researchers rowing into the middle of the Snowy River to collect a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from the gill net they had set hours before. Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. September...
    Doug Gimesy / Two researchers row into the middle of the Snowy River to collect a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from the gill net they had set hours before. Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. September 201...
    01614183
    Doug Gimesy / Two researchers row into the middle of the Snowy River to collect a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) from the gill net they had set hours before. Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. September 201...
    Doug Gimesy / Scientist taking blood sample from Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018. Model release supplied.
    01614266
    Doug Gimesy / Scientist taking blood sample from Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018. Model release supplied.
    Doug Gimesy / Blood is drawn from the bill of an anaesthetised platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) it will be put into a test tube for later analysis. Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. September 2017. Model rel...
    01614228
    Doug Gimesy / Blood is drawn from the bill of an anaesthetised platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) it will be put into a test tube for later analysis. Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. September 2017. Model rel...
    Doug Gimesy / Blood is drawn from the bill of an anaesthetised Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. September 2017~Model release supplied.
    01614209
    Doug Gimesy / Blood is drawn from the bill of an anaesthetised Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. September 2017~Model release supplied.
    Doug Gimesy / A tick is removed for analysis from a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) caught in the field. Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018.
    01614238
    Doug Gimesy / A tick is removed for analysis from a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) caught in the field. Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018.
    Doug Gimesy / Two researchers examine and take measurements from a young female platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Dalgety, NSW, Australia. September, 2017.Model released.
    01614181
    Doug Gimesy / Two researchers examine and take measurements from a young female platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Dalgety, NSW, Australia. September, 2017.Model released.
    Doug Gimesy / This mural next to the Yarra River which is a local hotspot for Platypus, and forms part of a broader 3 year 'Communities for Platypus program' in the area. Warburton, Victoria, Australia. June 2017....
    01614276
    Doug Gimesy / This mural next to the Yarra River which is a local hotspot for Platypus, and forms part of a broader 3 year 'Communities for Platypus program' in the area. Warburton, Victoria, Australia. June 2017....
    Doug Gimesy / Anaesthetised Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is readied for a radio transponder to be surgically implanted in a make-shift surgical theatre in a lounge room. This transponder will allow researche...
    01614270
    Doug Gimesy / Anaesthetised Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is readied for a radio transponder to be surgically implanted in a make-shift surgical theatre in a lounge room. This transponder will allow researche...
    Doug Gimesy / Scientist surgically implanting Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) with radio transponder. Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018. Model released.
    01614264
    Doug Gimesy / Scientist surgically implanting Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) with radio transponder. Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018. Model released.
    Doug Gimesy / A platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) has a radio transponder surgically implanted by Dr Gilad Bino whilst anaesthetised in a make-shift surgical theatre in a lounge. This transponder will allow resea...
    01614242
    Doug Gimesy / A platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) has a radio transponder surgically implanted by Dr Gilad Bino whilst anaesthetised in a make-shift surgical theatre in a lounge. This transponder will allow resea...
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) undergoing surgical implantation of radio transponder Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018. Model release.
    01614249
    Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) undergoing surgical implantation of radio transponder Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018. Model release.
    Doug Gimesy / A platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) has a radio transponder surgically implanted by Dr Gilad Bino whilst anaesthetised in a make-shift surgical theatre in a lounge. This transponder will allow resea...
    01614244
    Doug Gimesy / A platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) has a radio transponder surgically implanted by Dr Gilad Bino whilst anaesthetised in a make-shift surgical theatre in a lounge. This transponder will allow resea...
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