Platypuses face growing welfare threats from land clearing, altered waterways, and climate change across their eastern Australian range.
Platypus welfare is threatened by the intersection of water quality, flow regime, and habitat changes caused by development and climate change. Reduced river flows concentrate platypuses in smaller areas, increasing competition and disease risk. Illegal opera-house style yabby traps cause drowning deaths - platypuses enter the enclosed traps following yabbies and cannot escape. Their extreme sensitivity to environmental conditions means even seemingly minor waterway modifications can make habitat unsuitable. Climate change is projected to reduce suitable habitat significantly over coming decades.