Famed furry creature explores icy river after snow blankets Tasmania. Watch

Miami Herald

3 days ago

Winter has hit the southern hemisphere, and with it, the highlands of Tasmania have turned into a wintery wonderland.
Tasmania, the island state of Australia, sits about 150 miles south of the mainland and was hit with a 'cold snap' that 'brought some decent snowfall' to its higher regions at the end of May, photographer Michael Eastwell said in May 20 and May 22 Instagram posts.
One critter was enjoying the fresh-fallen snow as Eastwell passed by on a walk, he said. Eastwell noticed the creature bopping along the snowy banks of a river, and snuffling through the icy water, he said.
'Ever seen a platypus in the snow?' Eastwell asked the post.
The video shows the platypus starting in a shallow creek, moving its head from side to side in the water. The critter then comes up on shore and uses its webbed feet to scoot along the surface of the snow.
The photographer also posted photos on Instagram, which were then shared by The Wilderness Society on Facebook.
'Anyone else feeling the cold? You might be, but this little one probably isn't!' the organization said in a May 30 post. 'Platypus habitat is all along the south-east of Australia.'
The Wilderness Society said the dense fur covering the little critters helps to make the animal 'waterproof,' allowing them to 'swim in very cold water for hours.'
'It's even said to provide better insulation than fur of polar bears and beavers,' the organization said.
Platypus are part of a mammal order known as monotremes, which includes echidnas, and means they lay eggs, according to the Australian Museum.
Their paddle-like tail acts as a fat reserve, and they have strong claws that are used for burrowing on land, the museum says.
Platypuses are primarily nocturnal or active around twilight and at night, staying in their riverbank burrows during the day. They forage for a variety of aquatic invertebrates for about 10 to 12 hours a day, the museum says.
Aside from their bills acting as a disguise, they also serve as the animal's primary sensory organ, the museum says. The bill has sensors that are sensitive to pressure as well as electroreceptors, but the exact way the bill detects a platypus's prey is still unknown.
Platypuses are found throughout eastern and southeastern Australia, and on the island of Tasmania.