Key Takeaways
- A rare albino-looking pink platypus, nicknamed "Pinky", has been spotted in a remote river in East Gippsland, Victoria.
- The sighting is only one of a dozen confirmed cases of albino platypuses in about 200 years.
- The platypus’s unusual coloration is due to a rare genetic quirk that interrupts normal pigmentation.
- The location of the sighting is being kept secret to protect Pinky from being disturbed.
- The discovery adds to scientific records and highlights the lack of knowledge about color variation in platypuses.
Introduction to the Sighting
When Melbourne fisherman Cody Stylianou made the long drive to a quiet river in Victoria’s east a few months ago, he expected a routine day of exploring. Instead, he found himself face to face with a rare sight — a pink platypus suspected of having albinism. Only a dozen such sightings have been confirmed in about 200 years. The unusual coloring first appeared as a pale shape drifting beneath the tannin-rich surface, moving differently to the fish that Mr. Stylianou had been tracking. As the platypus surfaced, its features were unmistakable: light fur, a soft pink bill, and pink feet, signs of a rare genetic quirk that interrupts normal pigmentation.
The Rarity of Albino Platypuses
Research from experts says color variations of this kind, whether caused by albinism or leucism, are exceptionally uncommon in platypuses. Mr. Stylianou’s sighting is a significant addition to scientific records, and it highlights just how little is known about color variation in one of Australia’s most iconic species. EnviroDNA wildlife ecologist Josh Griffiths said spotting a regular platypus in the wild was already uncommon enough, so to encounter an albino-looking platypus made the sighting more extraordinary. "They’re just often difficult to see in the wild because they’re mostly active at night, so they don’t sort of hang out in large groups," Mr. Griffiths said.
Protecting Pinky’s Location
To protect Pinky from being disturbed, Mr. Stylianou has chosen not to reveal the location, a remote stretch of river in East Gippsland that he enjoys visiting. The isolation has likely played a role in Pinky surviving unnoticed for so long, and the brief encounter has left Mr. Stylianou hopeful he may see him again on future travels. "I was pretty stoked to finally back up what I told people I saw a few years prior," he said. "I knew he [Pinky] was super rare as again, when I’d seen it the first time, I quickly realised pictures of them with pink bills and feet didn’t exist." By keeping the location secret, Mr. Stylianou is helping to ensure Pinky’s safety and allowing him to continue thriving in his natural habitat.
The Solitary Nature of Platypuses
Mr. Griffiths said platypuses are "very solitary creatures" that are mostly active at night, making them difficult to spot in the wild. "They’re still fairly widespread throughout," he said. However, albino animals do not survive long as their light appearance makes them easy prey. But Mr. Griffiths said albino platypuses may live longer as they do not have any natural predators trying to hunt them. "Because platypuses are in rivers, they’re usually the apex predator in these rivers [and] there’s nothing really that eats them. So they’re generally pretty safe in that regard," he said.
The Possibility of a Second Encounter
For Mr. Stylianou, the moment carried a sense of familiarity. Several years earlier, in a similar area, he encountered a smaller platypus with the same distinctive pink coloring. He believed the animal he spotted in September was the same one, now older and considerably larger. "Though that first time I only got a glimpse before he left out of sight," Mr. Stylianou said. Mr. Griffiths said he believed it was most likely that Mr. Stylianou had spotted Pinky on both occasions. "I don’t know how far apart those sightings were, but it means that this animal has survived for that period of time," he said. "And it’s probably that platypus’ home range, and so it’s not moving too far out of that area." The possibility of a second encounter with Pinky is a thrilling prospect for Mr. Stylianou, and it highlights the importance of continued conservation efforts to protect these unique and fascinating creatures.
