Imam Sajjad (PBUH) said: The meeting of the righteous invites you to goodness.

Well-meaning people may try to rescue a platypus that is wandering and seems to be lost, a move that often proves harmful to people and platypus. A wild platypus captured by humans will probably die of shock. The rescuers may end up with days of pain and misery from a platypus sting. Wildlife education in Australia stresses leaving lost animals alone and calling a local office of the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage.

Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) said: Be careful to have truthful friends and try to obtain them, for they are your support when you are in welfare, and your advocator when you have misfortune.

Platypus were nearly wiped out by hunting, into the early twentieth century, for their fine, soft, waterproof fur. Nevertheless, humans, out of carelessness and ignorance, continue to make life miserable for the platypus. The animals become entangled in fishing hooks and lines, and in fishing nets; such encounters end in drowning or in the scarring of the bill. Tasmania platypuses are being impacted by infection from an introduced fungus and by chemical pollutants.

Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) said: My most beloved brother is he who (makes me aware of) my faults.

The platypus, almost as much as the kangaroo, has become a national symbol of Australia and of the odd, weird, and outright bizarre creatures native to that continent and country. The platypus is a symbol, as well, for the unique, the quirky, and the unexpected in nature, which makes the animal and its behavior a subject of curiosity and science education.

Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) said: Be the friend of he who may grace you, not of one whom you are better than.

The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him and his progeny) said: Man is influenced by the faith of his friends. Therefore, be careful of whom you associate with.

Predators of platypus, other than humans, include birds of prey such as hawks, eagles, and owls; Murray cod, a freshwater fish; and crocodiles. Carpet pythons, goanna lizards and rakali, or Australian water-rats, prey on young platypus in burrows. Carnivorous mammal species introduced by European settlers, including foxes, dogs, and cats, prey on platypus, although some of these predators are dealt painful ends by the poison spurs of male platypus.

The mother, having no nipples, nurses the young with milk that comes directly from her belly skin. In about four months, the young emerge for the first time from the burrow, each about a foot long and with a full coat of fur.