For over half a century, the quiet pools and ripples of the Hacking River in Australia’s Royal National Park were missing something vital. Following a devastating oil spill decades ago, the iconic, duck-billed platypus had completely vanished from the area. But fast forward to today, and these elusive, egg-laying mammals aren't just surviving back in their historic home—they are actively reclaiming it. According to a recent report by Mongabay and researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the reintroduced platypus population is officially "tracking well" and passing major ecological milestones. From a Fragile Ten to a Thriving Twenty This ambitious rewilding initiative kicked off in May 2023 when a founding group of just 10 platypuses was released into the park. Over the next few years, scientists carefully topped up those numbers, culminating in the release of four more individuals—named Absinthe, Duckie, Dawn, and Hydra—in May 2026. Recent field sur...