"As a meteorologist, that is remarkable, almost seems like it's not possible, but it happened," Berardelli said. Just a couple of weeks ago, Australia hit 107 F for the average temperature, breaking a past record by three degrees. "We're in a three-year drought in Australia," CBS News meteorologist and climate specialist Jeff Berardelli said on "CBS This Morning" earlier this month. The country has been experiencing devastating wildfires, which stem from a typical weather pattern that has been intensified by climate change. Platypuses are "secretive and nocturnal," according to the study, and they are unlisted in most areas of Australia - except for South Australia, where they are endangered, according to UNSW.īecause platypuses lived in areas undergoing extensive human development, their long-term viability was compromised, Professor Richard Kingsford, director of the UNSW Centre for Ecosystem Science and study co-author, said.Ĭlimate change and extreme drought have affected more than just platypuses in Australia. The research team will continue to study the ecology and conservation of what they called the "enigmatic animal." Bino said their study added to the body of evidence that the platypus is on the path to extinction, much like many other Australia species. "We should learn from the peril facing the koala to understand what happens when we ignore the warning signs," he added.ĭr. An Australian platypus swims around in search for food at Taronga Soo in Sydney, Australia, May 8, 2008. "Even for a presumed 'safe' species such as the platypus, mitigating or even stopping threats, such as new dams, is likely to be more effective than waiting for the risk of extinction to increase and possible failure," Wintle said. Professor Brendan Wintle from the University of Melbourne, who co-authored the study, echoed this sentiment. Climate change and long droughts are among the risk factors threatening platypuses.įacebook/NSW National Parks and Wildlife Serviceĭue to current climate conditions, land clearing and fragmentation by dams, the number of platypuses in the world have decreased by about half, which has led to the extinction of local populations across about 40 per cent of the species' range. The study examined the threats that could damage platypus populations, such as climate change, severe periods of drought, water resource development and land clearing.
With rivers drying up, many platypuses are becoming stranded and a new study led by University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney's Centre for Ecosystem Science has examined the risks of extinction for the unique mammal.Īlthough there is little known about the distribution of platypuses because of their nocturnal nature, the study determined there is "an urgent need for a national risk assessment" for the platypus. Australia's severe drought and other climate change effects are driving the native platypus towards extinction, researchers warn.
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