Spotting Platypus in Tasmania with Elleke Leurs

With its unique and bizarre anatomy and egg-laying habits, the platypus initially bewildered the scientific community. Today, Tasmania remains one of the premier destinations to observe this remarkable creature thriving in its pristine, natural habitat. Premier Travel Tasmania guide Dr Elleke Leurs unravels the deep mysteries surrounding this iconic Australian mammal.

Elleke explains the initial confusion surrounding the platypus's discovery: "They actually initially thought it was a hoax, an animal put together as a joke with a bill of a duck, and then the tail of a beaver." As Elleke points out, this characteristic challenged traditional classifications: "All the normal features that you would expect from a reptile or a mammal are just not in place in the Platypus. So put it all together, you've got an absolutely unique animal."

Spotting a platypus requires careful observation of aquatic activity, specifically movement and bubbles. Elleke cautions against misinterpreting other phenomena: "It's not the air from their lungs, it is the water compression from their fur and feet that creates the bubbles. Freshwater fish can play mind games, too, because they make the same circles that you would expect from a Platypus."

Image credit: Premier Travel Tasmania

Elleke also draws attention to the platypus's unique sensory abilities. "They are in the family of monotremes, and they share that family only with the echidna. The platypus has electro sensors, and they send out those sensors, and they feel every little movement in the water to detect their prey." The platypus' bill plays a crucial role in this process. "With the bill of the Platypus, it is super sensitive, and that is how they can detect the slightest movement in the water."

For those hoping to observe a platypus in the wild, Premier Travel Tasmania offers a range of full day and multi-day tours that visit several hotspots. “Mount Field National Park, in the creeks by Russell Falls and Horseshoe Falls, we usually see them,” explains Elleke. “Then you’ve got Cradle Mountain, which we have very good success, too.” Another fantastic viewing location is at the Tasmanian Arboretum, which is included in Premier Travel Tasmania's 7 Day Tasmanian Wilderness & Wildlife Encounter.

Encountering a platypus is often a highlight. "It's beautiful. It's sheer excitement,” Elleke reflects. “After they've seen it, I think they're actually more interested in learning more about it, and how insanely unique it is."