A platypus was removed from the wild before being taken via train to a major shopping centre and later released into a river, police believe.
Officers found the 26-year-old man accused of taking the animal from a waterway north of Brisbane on Thursday, who now faces serious protected animal charges.
It’s alleged the man and a female companion were seen showing the animal to members of the public as they travelled to Caboolture shopping centre via train on Tuesday.
Police were told the monotreme dubbed Pete the platypus was later released into the Caboolture River, but its condition is unknown.
Railway squad officers found the man in Caboolture at 12.30pm on Thursday following appeals by the state’s police commissioner and minister.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll earlier told the man to give himself up and that officers had footage of who they believed to be responsible.
“If you’re watching this and you know who you are, can you please come to us because we will be out there looking for you,” she told reporters earlier on Thursday.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said the incident was “a whole ‘nother level of stupid”.
“Peter needs to get home and you’ve done something very, very stupid,” he said on Thursday morning.
The platypus was at risk of becoming sick, diseased or dying the longer it is out of its habitat, authorities said.
It should not have been fed or introduced to any new environments.
Taking a platypus from the wild is an offence under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act and a maximum penalty of more than $430,000 applies.
The man is due to face court on April 8.
