| Porthole 07 Jul 21

THE platypus may be making a comeback to Adelaide’s Torrens River more than a century after the species disappeared from the habitat amid rising pollution levels.

Researchers are preparing to carry out a feasibility study to check on whether the river environment and water quality have improved enough to be suitable for the animals, and will report back in six months.

Also set to be monitored is whether there is enough space and food, and the prevalence of predators.

“There’s been a huge amount of work done on improving the Torrens and naturalising it and creating a wonderful river over the last 30 years,” said the Department for Environment & Water’s Chris Daniels.

“Isn’t it time we think about bringing back one of the world’s most amazing, most iconic animals to a place it used to live?”