Looped litter: Suspected band
Outcome: Immediate release

Is a platypus entangled in looped litter, or is a past injury causing an unnatural linear separation in their fur? Sometimes it can be difficult, if not impossible, to tell for certain.

What to do? In such cases we only intervene if there is sufficient evidence to suggest the risk of not doing so is greater to the animal.

In this case, there was a distinct separation in the platypus’s fur that needed to be checked. A smooth capture and assessment meant that the platypus’s day was only disturbed by a few minutes.

And the cause of the fur separation? A scar from a previous looped litter entanglement, that was healing well.

Thanks to @michellebythewild for spotting the platty and keeping track of it!