Zoo History: Keep Calm and Platypus On

Animal transports can happen for a wide variety of reasons.  The transport may take place to fulfill the recommendations of a breeding program, or to met a facility's needs for an exhibit, or to put animals in a more appropriate social group.  Sometimes, to be honest, they take place on a whim.

Few animal transactions in history have proven more whimsical, bordering on the farcical, than Winston Churchill's platypus.

Winston Churchill was hardly unique among world leaders in having a passion for animals (an entire book of animal anecdotes has been compiled).   He kept several pets, including many of the more exotic persuasion, and had a close relation with the London Zoo.  Beyond his personal interest in animals, Churchill understood the impact that animals could have on the psyche and morale of a nation, especially during dark times.  In 1943, England was certainly in the midst of some dark days.  Perhaps, Prime Minister Churchill reasoned, there was something that could be done to boost the nation's spirits.  Perhaps a platypus would do...

By the start of World War II, only a single live platypus had ever been seen outside of Australia, and none had ever seen British soil.  The arrival of one in England, in the middle of a war that threatened England's very survival, would have been quite a coup.  It would also help to improve England's chilly-relations with Australia.

Churchill wanted several platypuses for British zoos; perhaps he was aware of the delicacy of the species under human care and envisioned that he might need spares.  As it was, a single platypus was prepared for shipment to Europe, a young male.  The animal was obtained from David Fleay of Healesville Sanctuary, possibly the world's leading authority on the species.  The specimen slated for shipment to England was carefully vetted, trained to be comfortable with human caretakers.  He was, perhaps unsurprisingly, named "Winston."

Excitement about the soon-to-be-British platypus spread like wildfire.  The London Zoo built an elaborate platypus habitat.  British school children were sent on a mission to collect earthworms, carefully packed into moist tea leaves, to feed the little beast.  Even more elaborate were the preparations taken on board the ship that transported him.  He had a special keeper, thousands of worms, and a private suite.  With such luxurious conditions, it's no surprise that he almost made it.

The platypus coasted most of the way back to Britain, almost all the way back, when it came across a U-boat.  Depth charges were dropped and the enemy repelled, but at a coast.  Platypuses, it seems, are very sensitive to vibrations - it's how they sense their prey in the waters.  Not surprisingly, they also are quite sensitive to depth charges.  Winston was found dead in his tank shortly after the attack.   As of this day, a live platypus as never reached British soil.