Penelope, the Bronx Zoo Platypus That Faked a Pregnancy and Then Disappeared
The Bronx Zoo wanted a baby platypus. Penelope gave them something better: publicity.
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The Bronx Zoo wanted a baby platypus. Penelope gave them something better: publicity.
A live platypus had never been seen in Europe when Churchill hatched his bizarre plan to have one sent 20,0000km by sea to London Zoo in the middle of history's biggest global war.
The colonisation of Australia coincided with a boom in European interest in exotic animals – so kangaroos, dingoes, wombats and more were shipped off regardless of practicalities
John Woinarksi’s copy of this 1935 classic of environmental writing is older than him, mostly broken, much read and priceless.
Until DNA researchers figure out a way to de-extinct the thylacine, or someone captures a live one rumored to still be roaming the Australian and Tasmanian bush, one of our only looks at the magnificent Tasmanian tiger is via black-and-white films of the last known member of the species – Benjamin, who was captured in