National Geographic Australias Animal Mysteries

en
00:00:06 With the coming of each new dawn,
00:00:09 shadows of an ancient past echo
00:00:13 land of eternal mystery.
00:00:18 Alien and remote for
00:00:21 it remains today an
00:00:24 a land only recently disturbed
00:00:40 Long before the time of man,
00:00:42 there appeared here creatures
00:00:46 So unlike other animals are they
00:00:49 that many early European explorers
00:01:07 Even today, three centuries later,
00:01:10 many of the questions the animals
00:01:22 Throughout Australia, investigators
00:01:26 of this infinitely varied wildlife.
00:01:30 Animals once dubbed "living fossils"
00:01:34 and categorized, their evolutionary
00:01:40 Yet, inevitably, there remain more
00:01:45 haunting, ago-old mysteries that beckon
00:01:51 unique to Australian shores.
00:02:52 Washed by the South Pacific on the
00:02:56 Australia stretches for almost
00:03:00 It is the world's smallest continent,
00:03:05 a self-contained biological laboratory
00:03:11 Science has long been puzzled
00:03:16 became home to what is probably the
00:03:19 of creatures found anywhere in the world.
00:03:23 Part of the answer lies in
00:03:27 its geographic separation
00:03:32 Cut off from the Earth's
00:03:35 Australia has evolved in seabound
00:03:40 its wildlife relatively undisturbed
00:03:45 But the world as we know it today
00:03:48 does not hold all the answers
00:03:52 We must look to a distant time in
00:03:56 when the continents were joined.
00:03:58 Scientists believe that somewhere
00:04:03 as the Americas, Antarctica,
00:04:07 the earliest marsupials
00:04:11 When the landmass split apart,
00:04:13 the continents carried
00:04:16 However, in South America, predators
00:04:20 eventually wiped out a great
00:04:24 In Antarctica they became
00:04:28 Only in Australia,
00:04:31 could these unique creatures flourish.
00:04:34 And until the relatively late
00:04:37 they evolved, for the most part,
00:04:39 undisturbed for millions of years.
00:04:44 Even today, Australia's human
00:04:49 and because much of the interior
00:04:53 the large cosmopolitan
00:05:05 A common myth about "Down Under"
00:05:10 hopping down the streets of Sydney.
00:05:12 Yet it is quite likely that many of
00:05:17 and perhaps never will, outside a zoo.
00:05:26 Zoos and sanctuaries are popular
00:05:30 Here, tame animals
00:05:33 for an intimate look at some of
00:05:44 Most of the kangaroos at this sanctuary
00:05:48 their mothers the victims of
00:05:53 Under the watchful eye of a keeper,
00:05:55 the joeys, as young kangaroos are called,
00:05:57 can be cared for until old enough to
00:06:01 I'm going to put him in a bag.
00:06:02 A pillowcase is an ample substitute
00:06:06 Good joey. That's a baby.
00:06:14 Sit square on. Put two hands one on
00:06:17 Perhaps number one of any popularity
00:06:23 the cuddlesome koala.
00:06:25 ...Straight over your shoulder
00:06:27 Chin up. And thank you.
00:06:29 Okay miss, just watching me, please.
00:06:31 Oh, you've got a beautiful smile,
00:06:33 How about that, eh?
00:06:35 Captured young,
00:06:38 Even in the wild, they are basically
00:06:45 Life for the wild koala revolves in
00:06:50 throughout eastern Australia.
00:06:54 On the ground just to move from
00:06:57 the koala spends almost all
00:07:01 It has developed highly
00:07:04 for its arboreal life...
00:07:06 long arms, well-padded paws,
00:07:09 and opposable thumbs with
00:07:14 Not only home and shelter,
00:07:16 eucalyptus trees provide the koala
00:07:20 It eats about two pounds of leaves a day.
00:07:25 Despite superficial resemblance,
00:07:27 the so-called koala "bear"
00:07:31 but a true marsupial a
00:07:42 After birth the young will stay in the
00:07:49 When strong enough to leave the pouch,
00:07:53 and for the next few months will
00:07:57 clinging either to her back or chest.
00:08:22 The koala has inspired myriad reactions
00:08:24 from observers over the centuries.
00:08:27 One author has written:
00:08:28 "The koala's expression always reminds
00:08:33 or some dowager duchess...
00:08:36 rather bored, well-fed and well-bred...
00:08:41 But many aborigines saw something
00:08:45 to them the koala represented
00:08:49 of the spirits of lost children.
00:09:04 A research team from Queensland's
00:09:08 is studying the koala's ecology and
00:09:13 Their study area is roughly 600 acres
00:09:19 He's got up higher than he was
00:09:21 Yeah.
00:09:26 Okay, let's go.
00:09:28 Led by Dr. Greg Gordon,
00:09:30 the researchers have been capturing
00:09:35 It is by no means a simple task.
00:09:40 And, as the wary animal
00:09:43 the pole must be extended to reach it.
00:09:49 This is not going to be
00:09:52 He's got to he's going to drop just
00:09:55 Yeah, I think you're right.
00:10:00 Experience has taught the scientists
00:10:02 that the procedure is basically
00:10:06 its sturdy build and thickly padded rump
00:10:09 seem to protect it against the fall.
00:10:14 That's it. You're just below him now.
00:10:20 You're right below him.
00:10:29 Got him?
00:10:33 See, doesn't hurt him at all.
00:10:35 Particularly when they come down
00:10:38 It was a rude awakening, wasn't it.
00:10:40 Though easygoing by nature,
00:10:42 a koala may become
00:10:45 The bag is a precaution against
00:10:53 Sought for its fur in the early
00:10:57 the slow-moving koala was hunted
00:11:01 Today, thanks to government protection
00:11:07 Recently, however,
00:11:10 there has been a puzzling
00:11:14 By tagging the animals and
00:11:18 the scientists hope to pinpoint the cause.
00:11:23 In the meantime,
00:11:23 thorough examinations expand
00:11:28 and general states of health.
00:11:31 Color-coded tags make the animal
00:11:35 even when high in the trees.
00:11:38 This one was tagged originally
00:11:41 and much about him is already known.
00:11:45 Tooth wear is about the most
00:11:50 This male is roughly three years old.
00:11:58 Now, we'll do his chest gland.
00:12:00 On their chests all male koalas
00:12:04 which exudes a distinctive odor.
00:12:06 By rubbing the gland on tree trunks
00:12:09 they announce their presence
00:12:14 Okay, we'll go out of the sun, over here.
00:12:17 That sound like a good idea.
00:12:32 Okay, fellow.
00:12:33 There we are. Good as new.
00:12:37 He's not going to go to that tree again.
00:12:41 Go on.
00:12:45 ...nasty, that one...
00:12:46 Momentarily disoriented after his
00:12:50 the young koala seems unsure
00:12:54 But within seconds he heads back
00:12:58 from which he'd been captured.
00:13:00 Guess he proved me wrong.
00:13:05 He took that rather well.
00:13:12 Sensing only that he is safely back
00:13:16 the koala cannot possibly realize
00:13:21 may well help determine the
00:13:30 Perhaps the very symbol of Australia,
00:13:32 the kangaroo remains as fascinating today
00:13:35 as when the first live specimen
00:13:39 A handbill announcing the
00:13:42 "to enumerate its extraordinary
00:13:46 the common Limits of a Public Notice".
00:13:49 Now, almost two centuries later,
00:13:53 one of the kangaroo's most
00:13:58 After a gestation period
00:14:01 this red kangaroo prepares to give birth.
00:14:05 Though scientists now understand
00:14:09 it is no less remarkable to behold.
00:14:13 All marsupials are born in an
00:14:18 their growth to be completed
00:14:23 Defenseless and blind,
00:14:25 the tiny newborn,
00:14:29 must navigate through her
00:14:34 If it loses its way, it will die.
00:14:56 Once inside the pouch,
00:15:00 the newborn finds one of the
00:15:04 Here it will remain attached,
00:15:16 Now the joey will be strong enough to
00:15:20 But even when it is old enough to graze,
00:15:23 it will return to the pouch to nurse
00:15:31 Amazing in their adaptability, some
00:15:36 as others are bounding
00:15:39 There are about 50 species
00:15:43 ranging from up to seven feet in
00:15:49 But one trait they all
00:16:23 Though it may weigh
00:16:26 the kangaroo is a picture of grace
00:16:29 It can reach speed up to
00:16:33 and cover as much as 25 feet in one leap.
00:16:47 Recently scientists were amazed to
00:16:51 the kangaroo actually uses less
00:16:56 It was found that,
00:16:59 the kangaroo's leg muscles and
00:17:03 which is then released without effort
00:17:17 Though the kangaroo is no doubt the
00:17:20 Australia boasts as many as
00:17:26 The ferocious-looking Tasmanian Devil
00:17:30 that eat meat exclusively.
00:17:46 Once can only imagine the astonishment
00:17:50 when they saw a pouched
00:17:54 These possums do not
00:17:57 but their kite-like membrane enables
00:18:00 for distances of 40 yards or more.
00:18:33 Only in small patches of Western
00:18:38 a small, gentle marsupial now extinct
00:18:43 With sharp claws the numbat roots
00:18:50 Its long, sinuous, sticky tongue can
00:19:09 With its distinctive bands of white
00:19:13 the numbat is considered by many
00:19:15 to be Australia's most
00:19:23 The majestic Blue Mountains lie
00:19:29 Here, beneath the vivid blue haze
00:19:33 areas of pristine wilderness abound.
00:19:37 Nestled in the hills,
00:19:38 an historic estate called Yengo
00:19:43 For the past 12 years it
00:19:47 to breeding endangered animals.
00:19:52 He's really heavy, I'll tell you that.
00:19:54 The owner is businessman Peter Pigott,
00:19:57 one of Australia's
00:19:59 With his wife and son,
00:20:01 he is transferring a wombat injured
00:20:13 Come here.
00:20:16 Come on.
00:20:18 Nice leg to bite.
00:20:20 Pigott's breeding success with
00:20:24 better than any zoo
00:20:25 and is attributed to his
00:20:28 the most natural setting possible
00:20:30 in a captive environment.
00:20:38 I guess that my first opportune at
00:20:42 in the field of conservation was the
00:20:46 that we thought was extinct.
00:20:48 The parma wallaby, a mall kangaroo
00:20:53 was abundant until early settlers
00:20:57 and introduced new predators.
00:20:59 Though thought to be extinct,
00:21:04 Starting with only 18 animals,
00:21:07 Pigott has increased the population
00:21:12 A lot of people say to me,
00:21:16 Why should we be really concerned?
00:21:18 I mean, aren't people more
00:21:21 We are all part of the 600 million
00:21:25 and I suppose that one of
00:21:27 that separates mankind from the animals
00:21:30 is our sense and
00:21:33 our love of literature,
00:21:35 our love of art and poetry,
00:21:39 I often think that if we lose this we
00:21:44 and the animals that are here.
00:21:45 We might wake up one morning and
00:22:08 Her skies ablaze with color,
00:22:10 Australia has been called
00:22:14 More than 300 species are
00:22:51 One of Australia's most distinctive birds,
00:22:53 the mallee fowl is a prodigious engineer.
00:22:58 To incubate their eggs in a harsh
00:23:02 and subject to sharp temperature changes,
00:23:04 they build mounds up to 15 feet
00:23:12 Working together,
00:23:15 a bed of wet leaves and twigs.
00:23:20 To seal in the moisture and heat
00:23:25 they cover the mound with sand.
00:23:34 The egg chamber itself lies
00:23:39 Beginning in the spring and
00:23:43 the female will come about once a
00:23:57 The mallee regions are marked by
00:24:01 between day and night and
00:24:04 but the egg chamber must be kept at
00:24:11 Once the female has laid her egg,
00:24:13 she will heave the tending
00:24:17 To determine the temperature,
00:24:21 With a sensitive spot either
00:24:25 he gets a reading as accurate
00:24:32 Regulating the temperature by
00:24:36 or adding sand to conserve it is an
00:24:42 a consuming task to
00:24:45 for up to nine months of the years.
00:24:51 Roughly every two months,
00:24:53 a chick will work its way up through
00:24:57 never to see its parents again.
00:25:03 > From the depths of the forest echoes
00:25:08 the lyrebird, master of vocal mimicry.
00:25:20 Seemingly endless in its variety,
00:25:23 the lyrebird's repertoire
00:25:26 as well as man-made sounds.
00:25:36 The mating ritual is highlighted
00:25:38 by a shimmering display of
00:25:53 In central Australia,
00:25:57 But storms are few and short-lived in
00:26:02 As the claypans begin to dry up
00:26:04 the water-holding frog demonstrates
00:26:15 Increasing its body weight by
00:26:17 as much as 50 percent
00:26:20 the frog burrows into the softened clay
00:26:23 to a depth of more than three feet.
00:26:34 Once underground, it will enter
00:26:38 its active life essentially over
00:26:56 Encased in a cocoon-like bag
00:26:59 the frog will remain in its chamber,
00:27:01 sealed beneath the now dry
00:27:07 In times of drought, these amazing
00:27:11 for two years or more.
00:27:16 Only when the rains finally come
00:27:20 can the frog begin to emerge.
00:27:30 It must mate quickly
00:27:32 so that his young will mature
00:27:36 and bury themselves
00:27:48 In the forests of
00:27:51 a major scientific discovery
00:27:58 Since that time,
00:27:59 a bizarre animal unique in the world
00:28:06 The first noteworthy fact was that
00:28:12 Australians had always believed that
00:28:14 there was no such thing
00:28:19 Since the time of the original discovery,
00:28:21 captured animals have been sent to
00:28:24 at the University of Adelaide
00:28:28 one of the countries
00:28:36 Spending their daylight hours
00:28:39 these frogs are the most light sensitive
00:28:45 The only way he has been able to
00:28:48 is to remove them from
00:28:55 In a specially built tank with
00:28:59 the frogs will be unaware
00:29:03 Because many have died in captivity
00:29:06 no more have been found in the wild,
00:29:08 these two remain to
00:29:11 some of the most unusual
00:29:17 But though action like this free-falling
00:29:21 it is the animal's reproduction
00:29:24 that has most electrified the world.
00:29:28 What is so unusual about the
00:29:31 is the fact that it carries
00:29:35 Superimposed on an X ray,
00:29:37 an artist's conception follows
00:29:42 until, at roughly eight weeks,
00:29:44 the female's stomach is completely
00:29:47 with fully developed frogs
00:29:51 The mother opens her mouth and then
00:29:56 and the babies pop up from the stomach
00:29:58 one or two at a time,
00:30:02 And then they sit and look around,
00:30:05 and then just very, very gently step out.
00:30:08 Tyler's rare photo of an actual birth
00:30:14 Here we have an animal
00:30:17 acid being produced in the stomach.
00:30:19 An awareness that that would be an
00:30:24 of being perhaps able to treat people
00:30:28 make use of that as an advantage.
00:30:30 For an example, during the treatment
00:30:35 it would be so useful to be able to
00:30:37 secretion totally for a period of
00:30:42 I say it's a long, long way.
00:30:46 and such a thing as a possibility.
00:30:48 But, I mean,
00:30:50 no one would have dreamed
00:30:53 with this habit could
00:30:56 with that in mind,
00:30:58 or too far fetched to maintain hopes
00:31:11 In the reptile world,
00:31:12 Australia stands out as the continent
00:31:15 with the largest proportion
00:31:19 The death adder is one of the
00:31:24 Without treatment,
00:31:32 Like all snake,
00:31:35 on small animals like lizards.
00:31:37 Its approach is neither
00:31:41 for in the end it relies on
00:31:43 an extraordinary device
00:31:48 Wriggling its tail tip as a lure,
00:31:50 the snake can lie quietly and wait.
00:31:54 Attracted by what must appear
00:31:58 the skink draws near.
00:32:05 The venom, five times more powerful than
00:32:09 paralyzes the muscles
00:32:12 and the victim dies of asphyxiation.
00:32:18 The Australian reptile Park
00:32:22 who has worked with snakes
00:32:25 People overseas always
00:32:29 as being koalas or kangaroos.
00:32:32 They don't think very much about
00:32:37 We have the deadliest reptiles
00:32:43 Robyn Worrell is an experienced
00:32:47 With careful concentration
00:32:50 she has been bitten
00:32:57 Though her snake-milking
00:33:00 the primary goal of her work lies in
00:33:05 What I'm milking here is
00:33:08 There's probably about
00:33:09 seven or eight different types
00:33:12 It's the third deadliest
00:33:15 What I'm actually doing now
00:33:18 over the rubber.
00:33:20 The fangs are penetrating through
00:33:23 accumulates in the bottom of the beaker.
00:33:25 Generally we keep...
00:33:26 Over the years, the venoms collected
00:33:29 have proved invaluable to laboratories
00:33:34 The work we do here is vital in that
00:33:38 it has been estimated that we save
00:33:46 That's during the snakes' active season,
00:33:48 which is to say from
00:33:53 And I think that works out to
00:33:57 that this organization
00:34:02 Thanks largely to the Worrells' work,
00:34:04 there are now antivenoms
00:34:13 In addition to snakes,
00:34:14 Australia's reptiles include some
00:34:19 Lacking venom as protection
00:34:22 they depend on an impressive
00:34:30 Looking like some creature
00:34:33 the Thorny Devil belongs to the
00:34:39 Actually a squat, slow-moving,
00:34:43 the devil is found throughout the
00:34:46 and western Australia,
00:34:47 and has adapted to some of
00:34:51 But perhaps its most notable adaptation
00:34:54 is its coat of spines
00:34:56 a barricade of daggers warning
00:35:12 Lizards abound throughout Australia.
00:35:14 The most famous and perhaps
00:35:19 of the warmer northern regions.
00:35:23 Undisturbed, the frilled lizard
00:35:27 But in the face of an enemy,
00:36:00 If all else fails,
00:36:21 The entire range of Australian wildlife
00:36:23 is the domain of these two naturalists
00:36:26 Together they are known
00:36:30 Individually they are
00:36:34 and his British-born partner Densey Clyne.
00:36:39 For the past 12 years they have
00:36:42 the naked eye can barely see.
00:36:46 Today the object of their search is
00:36:51 Yes.
00:36:53 This one is bringing something
00:36:56 It looks like a bit of food...
00:36:58 Debris.
00:36:59 I don't know what it is.
00:37:00 About an inch long,
00:37:01 They've seen us already.
00:37:03 ant inflicts a powerful
00:37:07 But to film their behavior,
00:37:09 Jim and Densey must collect
00:37:12 perhaps as many as 400 ants.
00:37:15 Even the larvae be taken, but
00:37:30 There we are.
00:37:31 At Densey's home,
00:37:34 Jim has built a plaster model based on
00:37:39 There's quite a lot of
00:37:41 Yes, right.
00:37:47 They're coming out everywhere.
00:37:48 The slippery white coating at the top
00:37:53 It's amazing what a lot of noise
00:37:55 Running around.
00:38:00 You can actually see the sting
00:38:03 coming out and trying to sting the glass.
00:38:05 Going in between the sections of glass.
00:38:08 Look at this one here.
00:38:10 Look at the sting.
00:38:14 Well, if I had my home
00:38:17 I wouldn't be very happy either.
00:38:19 Jim, I think although they're in a
00:38:22 you know, as soon as the queen
00:38:25 they'll be alright.
00:38:25 Yes.
00:38:28 They're not quite as frantic as they were.
00:38:30 No, they're not. Some of them have
00:38:33 and pupae down below.
00:38:36 It will be three or four days before
00:38:40 for Jim to begin filming.
00:38:51 I worked at the Australian Museum
00:38:56 and in that time I learned how to
00:39:01 as it were, in making miniature dioramas,
00:39:04 and it seemed a natural thing to
00:39:09 with the filming of small animals.
00:39:20 Colony life centers around the queen
00:39:23 whose primary function is to lay eggs.
00:39:26 She may produce as few as one a day
00:39:40 Using her sharp mandibles,
00:39:44 and looks for a safe place to lay it down.
00:39:52 She must be careful that the
00:39:55 do not steal it for food.
00:40:03 But indeed, this time it is a
00:40:16 To complete their development
00:40:19 the larvae will seal themselves
00:40:23 by spinning silk around debris
00:40:43 Having adjusted to their
00:40:46 the ants go about their routine.
00:40:49 An intruder into their silent,
00:40:52 Jim Frazier feels privileged to have
00:40:56 of one of the most
00:41:07 Millions of years of isolation in
00:41:11 have protected a group of
00:41:14 has no living relatives on Earth.
00:41:17 Sharing features of both ancestral
00:41:22 they may offer a glimpse of how more
00:41:27 One of these egg-laying mammals,
00:41:31 is the echidna, the spiny anteater.
00:41:35 This small, unaggressive creature
00:41:37 has only a tiny mouth at the end
00:41:46 In the daily search for ants,
00:41:48 it relies solely on the long sticky
00:41:57 The echidna's only defenses
00:42:01 are needle sharp spines
00:42:04 and the ability to sink out of sight
00:42:13 Digging rapidly into the hard earth,
00:42:15 the powerful echidna can
00:42:27 An almost impenetrable shield will
00:42:48 The female echidna carries
00:42:52 in a pouch that forms on her belly
00:42:54 at the beginning of the breeding season.
00:42:56 In about ten days the egg will hatch.
00:43:11 The tiny baby nurses in the pouch
00:43:16 By definition, a mammal is a warm-blooded,
00:43:20 haired animal that suckles its young.
00:43:23 The echidna qualifies in all respects.
00:43:25 But it retains the distinctly
00:43:28 reptilian characteristic of laying eggs.
00:43:33 When and why other mammals stopped laying
00:43:38 remains a recurrent
00:43:46 In eastern Australia's streams,
00:43:49 is found the echidna's only
00:43:53 Outwardly looking nothing
00:43:57 the platypus does share its
00:44:00 including the laying of eggs.
00:44:02 Although it is often called the
00:44:05 its bill is actually soft, pliable,
00:44:11 filled with sensitive nerves,
00:44:13 it is a specialized adaptation for
00:44:17 and crayfish on which the platypus feeds.
00:44:21 Lacking teeth, adults grind their food
00:44:31 Because the platypus spends much of
00:44:35 little of its life cycle is known.
00:44:37 So unlike other animals is the platypus,
00:44:40 it was considered a hoax
00:44:44 Laymen still gaze quizzically at an
00:44:49 part reptile, part bird.
00:44:54 At an early date it was named "paradoxus".
00:44:58 So much of a paradox is the platypus
00:45:03 it remains a creature shrouded in mystery.
00:45:13 One of Australia's foremost naturalists,
00:45:15 David Fleay has been studying the
00:45:23 Today at his Fauna Reserve in Queensland
00:45:26 visitors can enjoy an assortment
00:45:30 but it is the platypus most tourists
00:45:34 Well, he's going through
00:45:37 He's out feeding and swimming
00:45:40 and when he's had enough of that,
00:45:44 right into the night,
00:45:46 he goes back into these tunnels,
00:45:52 It was almost 40 years ago
00:45:57 as the first person to breed a
00:46:01 It began in 1943 with a couple
00:46:11 Taken from the wild,
00:46:12 they adjusted well to captivity
00:46:25 Not long after mating had been observed,
00:46:28 Jill stopped eating and disappeared
00:46:33 Fleay suspected she must be
00:46:37 It was roughly eight weeks
00:46:42 as the information was at that time,
00:46:44 that at eight weeks the baby
00:46:50 So we took the risk of
00:46:53 at this point, and having looked.
00:46:58 I felt that somehow that we were
00:47:01 And as it proved,
00:47:03 We found that she
00:47:06 Nice and fat and in good order,
00:47:09 but it was blind and helpless and
00:47:16 We'd opened that up much too soon.
00:47:19 We left things alone and just watched
00:47:24 And then, at a further rate,
00:47:28 about 16 weeks altogether,
00:47:32 and found that the baby
00:47:36 It was a tremendous relief.
00:47:39 Well, it was relayed
00:47:42 in New York and London.
00:47:44 The platypus, of course,
00:47:46 It's always attracted a lot of attention.
00:47:49 It was considered impossible round
00:47:52 for one to live in captivity for
00:47:55 After all the years of effort,
00:47:59 We put the flag up that day.
00:48:02 Four decades later not even Fleay has
00:48:19 With his assistants
00:48:22 Dr. Frank Carrick works after
00:48:26 when the platypus is most active.
00:48:28 He has been studying the animal's
00:48:36 At least with the water
00:48:39 there are fewer snags...
00:48:41 An unweighted fishing net has been
00:48:46 The scientists check the net at
00:48:49 guided by a light from shore.
00:48:53 Although the net is designed
00:48:57 there is always the
00:49:01 Gary, I think there might be an
00:49:04 a bit further from us there.
00:49:05 Would you like to just put
00:49:09 Excellent.
00:49:10 Yeah, he's gone under a bit.
00:49:19 Okay, just ease it up here, Jim.
00:49:24 Here he is, you little beauty.
00:49:26 Get him out.
00:49:28 Into the boat you go.
00:49:31 It's male, too.
00:49:33 His spurs.
00:49:35 Because the male platypus has
00:49:39 he must be handled with extreme care.
00:49:42 Although it's not certain,
00:49:43 scientists speculate the spurs are
00:49:47 in competition for females at mating time.
00:49:52 You got the box alright.
00:49:53 Put him in. in you go, chief.
00:49:58 Bless you.
00:49:59 Now, in you go.
00:50:02 That's got him.
00:50:09 There, check him.
00:50:11 Let's have a look at him.
00:50:13 Good boy.
00:50:15 Once the animal is lightly sedated,
00:50:18 Dr. Carrick can safely
00:50:22 Although the platypus
00:50:25 significant information on its ecology
00:50:27 has been gathered only
00:50:31 And so even the most basic data
00:50:34 and measurements are invaluable.
00:50:40 21. 21 hundred... less the bag.
00:50:41 I think, really, the platypus is
00:50:45 of all the Australian animals
00:50:51 Both for the interest of seeing
00:50:56 how patterns in the modern mammals
00:50:59 of course, in helping us
00:51:02 to ensure the platypus does
00:51:06 as it has done for many millions of years.
00:51:10 It always happens, doesn't it.
00:51:13 Thanks, Jim.
00:51:16 Alright ol' mate, you'll never notice it.
00:51:19 Levels of hormones in the blood
00:51:23 when and how often the male platypus
00:51:29 In any wildlife study,
00:51:33 come from animals that
00:51:36 and then followed over time.
00:51:39 Because platypuses,
00:51:40 for the most part, remain in a
00:51:44 Carrick hopes to entrap
00:51:46 a metal band identifying him
00:51:51 A bit of jewelry.
00:51:54 Now, marked and identified by his captors,
00:51:58 Number 89 is ready to be set free
00:52:01 to return to his burrows, his secret ways.
00:52:07 We going down with you?
00:52:08 No. I'll put him in.
00:52:15 With the surge of scientific research
00:52:19 a fascinating tableau of life
00:52:23 Unlike bewildered early explorers
00:52:28 of improbable-looking animals,
00:52:30 scientists of today
00:52:34 and geography helped shape the
00:52:39 But the puzzle is far from complete.
00:52:42 And so it remains.
00:52:47 echo still across this remote,
00:52:54 Perhaps someday, one small animal
00:52:58 may help unlock some of
00:53:03 a land that time forgot.