Tim Faulkner milks a platypus in an Australian first

AUSTRALIAN Reptile Park general manager Tim Faulkner has milked many of the world’s most dangerous snakes and spiders for their venom. Now he can add a platypus.

AUSTRALIAN Reptile Park general manager Tim Faulkner has milked many of the world’s most dangerous snakes and spiders for their venom.

Now he can add platypus to his feats of venomous milking after participating in a first ever extraction of monotreme venom at the Central Coast zoo.

The venom will be sent off to universities throughout Sydney in hopes of finding the next miracle cure.

Most Australians are familiar with the duck-billed platypus, one of the world’s only monotremes or egg-laying mammals.

Tim Faulkner with a three-month-old juvenile platypus being nursed back to health at the Australian Reptile Park. Picture: Peter Clark

But many people would be unaware the male platypus has a venomous spur on one of its hind legs.

The large spur inflicts an excruciatingly painful sting but is not lethal to humans.

The Australian Reptile Park is the only zoo in Australia to milk dangerous snakes and spiders to produce lifesaving antivenene.

But Mr Faulkner said the task of milking a platypus was a “completely different kettle of fish”.

“We milk hundreds of snakes and spiders weekly here at the park, but milking a platypus, this is a first,” he said.

Most people are unaware a male platypus has a venomous spur on its hind leg. Picture: Peter Clark

“I’ve never been caught on the receiving end of a platypus spur and I never want to.

“There is no antivenene available for the platypus at this time so you just have to sit and wait the pain out — today we participated in a very dangerous job.

“This kind of research is vital to moving forward with medicine. You never know what properties lie within this kind of venom, especially the venom of a mammal as there aren’t many mammals with venom in the entire world”

A platypus is a monotreme or an egg-laying mammal.

The platypus venom will be sent to universities across Sydney to see if it holds any properties that could prove useful in medicines.

Mr Faulkner said animal venoms have been researched and used in medicines to assist in many medical ailments including Taipan venom being used to help with stroke victims, venom from the poisonous lizard the Gila monster being used to help cure diabetes and pit vipers contributing to pain killers.

Once the milking was complete, Yaro, the platypus was released back into his pond for a swim.