Witness the story of Pete Walsh, a Tasmanian man who befriends a platypus he names Zoom.
Nature: The Platypus Guardian airs Sunday, August 24 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-WORLD
Pete Walsh is a Tasmanian obsessed with one of nature’s least understood creatures, the platypus. An egg-laying, duck-billed, venom-spined, furry-coated underwater mammal, the platypus’ natural environment is in danger from urban development in the capital city of Hobart. With the help of experts, Pete embarks on a mission to rally his community and save the species before it is too late.
During this endeavor, Pete befriends one particular female platypus he names “Zoom.” She lets him into her secretive world, and Pete learns more about the life of this enigmatic species, capturing unique footage of their behavior. Zoom’s behavior sheds light on platypus survival techniques and offers insight into how the species might be protected. Pete will reveal the life of this enigmatic creature, but his time is precious as he manages with his MS diagnosis.
This program is presented by Move to IncludeTM, an award-winning national initiative to promote disability inclusion, representation, and accessibility in public media.