I read a few articles today saying that Platypus milk may be able to combat superbugs: Platypus milk: unlikely weapon in fight against superbugs Platypus milk 'could help save lives' Platypus milk might save your life some day If this turns out to work, where would the milk that is sold come from? Captive individuals? Wild individuals? Could this have an affect on the wild Platypus populations? Or, on the other side, could this open the way for captive Platypi (or is it Platypuses?) to be found outside of Australia?
Often Platypus is used for the plural as well as the singular. Platypi technically is incorrect as the name comes from Greek (Platapous - flat footed) not Latin, so should probably be Platypodes.
It certainly wouldn't come from wild ones. There would either have to be a captive breeding group that is actually breeding - which is even harder to find than the milk - or they will synthesize it in a lab (which would be the most efficient and cost effective way). Hix