Episode of Series “Wild Life”.
A young schoolboy visits Healesville Sanctuary and joins its director (and noted Australian naturalist), Mr David Fleay, on a field trip to capture a platypus for a Western Australian sanctuary. During the excursion, details of the mammal’s physical characteristics, feeding habits, and reproduction are explained. David Fleay returns to Healesville and introduces Corrie, the first platypus bred in captivity, and his father Jack. The film shows their freshwater pool, the earthen bank where Corrie’s mother Jill built her nest in late 1943, and the wooded tunnels filled with grass hay where the platypus prefers to sleep. Also provides information on the origins of the platypus, its place in the wildlife of the Australian continent, and measures for its conservation. Recommends the following books: ‘The Platypus’ by Harry Burrel, ‘Furred Animals of Australia’ by Ellis Troughton, and ‘We Breed the Platypus’ by David Fleay. Commentary by David Low. Photography by Harry Malcolm. Sound recording by J. A. Bruce. Editing by Stanley Moore.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
000920
Language
English
Subject categories
Animals & Wildlife → Animals - Habitations
Animals & Wildlife → Aquatic mammals
Animals & Wildlife → Mammals - Australia
Animals & Wildlife → Monotremata
Animals & Wildlife → Zoology - Australia
Climate, Environment, Natural Resources & Disasters → Natural history
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White
Holdings
16mm film; Limited Access Print (Section 2)
16mm film; Preservation Print (Section 5)
16mm film; Access Print (Section 1)