Studying Platypuses

(0) After years studying Australia’s elusive platypuses in the conventional way, wildlife researcher Sophie Lane felt no closer to truly understanding the animals. She realised that she had to gain their trust. Abandoning strict detachment, she took the unusual step of observing them directly in the wild, wading into creeks at dawn and leaving food to gain their acceptance.

The (1) — Select — knowledge insight view idea this gave her into their behaviour allowed her to challenge certain assumptions about the species. (2) — Select — Due According Contrary Opposed to popular belief, she found that platypuses are not particularly shy, nor do they (3) — Select — avoid prefer seek like human contact as much as previously thought. She also (4) — Select — accepts disputes agrees confirms the long-held claim that they are clumsy on land. In fact, Lane observed that they can move with surprising agility when searching for nesting materials.

However, Lane is no sentimentalist. After devoting years of her life to the study, she is under no (5) — Select — dream illusion hope doubt about their feelings for her. It is clear that their interest in her does not (6) — Select — reach grow extend spread beyond the safety and food her presence provides. Still, she believes that building such trust has (7) — Select — offered opened provided given valuable opportunities to understand one of Australia’s most mysterious creatures.

And as she reflects on years of patient observation, Lane admits that the project has (8) — Select — changed taught shown inspired her as much as it has revealed the hidden world of the platypus itself.