Man charged with alleged platypus thief in Moreton Queensland
Accused platypus thief who allegedly wrapped the unique creature in a blanket and took it on a train faces charges after a desperate manhunt
- Police have charged a man with stealing a platypus
- He is said to have taken it from the wild in the Moreton precinct of QLD
- Police were told it had been released into the Caboolture River
Police arrested a man on Tuesday morning in connection with a platypus taken from its natural habitat.
A hunt for a man and woman, as well as the platypus, was sparked after the pair were reportedly caught on CCTV while showing the creature to people on a train.
Police said the pair boarded a train at Morayfield Station in Queensland with the animal wrapped in a towel, petted it and showed it to fellow commuters.
They then allegedly took it to the King Street mall in Caboolture, where they reportedly showed it to more members of the public.
The animal is said to have been taken from the wild around 11am on Tuesday in Queensland’s Moreton district.
Queensland Police have arrested and charged a 26-year-old man (pictured left) after allegedly taking a platypus from its natural habitat
A 26-year-old man has been apprehended in the incident, charged with one count each of taking a protected animal class 1 offense and a restriction on keeping or using a protected animal class 1 offense.
Unlawfully capturing and keeping a platypus from the wild is a Class 1 offense under Section 88 of the Nature Conservation Act 1992, which carries a maximum penalty of $431,250.
A woman has spoken to the police and an investigation is underway.
Police have learned that the animal was released into the Caboolture River away from where it was taken.
It has not yet been located by authorities and its condition is unknown.
The platypus can get sick, get sick, or die the longer it is out of its natural environment.
The man is said to have collected the platypus from the wild in the Moreton precinct before boarding a train at Morayfield Station with the animal wrapped in a towel
Platypus are ‘near threatened’ meaning they are vulnerable to extinction in the near future (stock image)
The story of the incident went viral worldwide, making headlines in the United States, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Anyone who sees a sick or injured platypus is urged to report it to the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) or to the Department of Environment and Science (DES) on 1300 130 372.
Police have urged anyone who comes into contact with it not to feed it or introduce it into a new environment as it could endanger people or the animal.
“Taking a platypus from the wild is not only illegal, but it can be dangerous for both the displaced animal and the person involved if it’s a male, because they have venomous spores,” a police spokesman said.
Platypus venom is not lethal to humans, but it causes extreme pain.
Anonymous reports on the incident. can be done via Policelink on 131444.