'Amazing' sight witnessed by Aussie fisherman for first time in 15 years: 'Never seen'
Jay Lowery captured incredible footage of the two platypus in the middle of a heated fight.
An Aussie man was enjoying an “early morning fish” with a mate on Monday when a loud thrashing in the water nearby captured his attention. Jay Lowery told Yahoo News Australia he was on hunt for some brown trout in Tasmania’s North Esk River when he noticed the strange noise, which went on for several minutes.
Intrigued, the local strolled over and “stumbled across” two platypus in the middle of an intense battle. “They were tussling for a good 10 plus minutes before I saw what was making all this commotion on the river’s edge,” he said. “That’s what I pulled my phone out and started recording.”
The footage shows the two iconic native mammals furiously wrestling in the water, repeatedly shoving each other away before angrily colliding again.
“They continued to tussle for another five minutes or so before going their own way,” Mr Lowery said. “I think they noticed I was watching them in amazement as it’s something I’ve never seen fishing in freshwater rivers in Tasmania for the past 15 years.”
Male platypuses caught in epic territorial fight
After reviewing the footage, staff at nearby Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary confirmed to Yahoo the clip appears to show two males fighting, which they are known to do when defending their territory. It’s not uncommon behaviour, as platypus “will wrestle and use their spurs in the fight if necessary”, they said.
Male platypuses have a sharp 12mm spur on each ankle. They are connected to glands that produce venom, which is particularly active during breeding season.
The venom is known to deliver a strong toxic blow to predators and can kill animals such as dogs. It can cause severe pain to humans but is not lethal.
“Platypuses are one of only five known venomous mammals but the precise role of the spur and venom is not fully understood,” the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania states online.
“The spurs can inflict wounds on natural predators or other males, and may possibly play some part in the breeding behaviour of the species.”
The platypus breeding season varies according to the population’s location but generally occurs in the spring in the country’s southern states.
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