How many platypuse in the world?

Answer 1

It is unknown what the actual population of platypuses is. The closest estimate is that platypus numbers are in the low thousands.

Not many surveys of platypus populations have been done, and even those have only been carried out in selected rivers on Australia's eastern coast. Recent research suggests that the average platypus population density along some of the better quality streams in part of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria is only around one to two animals per kilometre of channel. Besides this, the only information we have is that, apart from in South Australia where platypuses can no longer be found in the wild, the platypus population is believed to be the same as it was at the beginning of European settlement in Australia.

There also appear to be very few platypuses living in zoos outside of Australia. Even in Australia, a limited number of Australian zoos and universities hold permits to keep platypuses in captivity for the purpose of either display or research.