A wild platypus is kidnapped and paraded on a train

A 26-year-old man was arrested by Queensland Police after CCTV footage emerged showing the man with the creature wrapped in a towel. Photo: AFP.

A man has been charged in Australia with kidnapping a wild platypus and transporting it on a train.

A 26-year-old man was arrested by Queensland police on Thursday after CCTV footage emerged showing a man and a woman get on a train with a kitten-sized creature wrapped in a towel. Since then, the woman has also spoken to the police.

In Queensland, conservation laws prohibit the removal of «one or more» platypuses from the wild and carry a maximum fine of A$430,000).

The platypus is believed to have been taken from a waterway in the area Morayfield, about an hour north of Brisbane, on Tuesday before taking the train to Cabooltur.

«According to the report that was given to [authorities], they showed it to people on the train, letting people pet it,» said Queensland Police's Scott Knowles.

The couple were also accused of showing off the platypus at a nearby mall.

The Queensland Police Service has released photos of two people seen boarding a commuter train with a rare wild platypus. Photo: AFP

Local forces have previously called for the «timely release» of the platypus, which has caused serious health problems.

“If the platypus is a male, it can be dangerous for both the displaced animal and the person involved. because they have poisonous spurs,” the police said in a statement after the arrest of the man.

Police added: “If you happen to see a platypus in the wild, keep your distance.”

Never do not pet, hold or take the animal from the wild.”

The location and condition of the animal remain unknown after forces were told the platypus was released into the Kabooltur River but was unable to track it.

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan said earlier on Thursday that the capture of the animal was «an entirely different level of stupidity», according to local media. Mr. Ryan demanded that the platypus, whom he named Peter, be returned home.

«Peter has to come home, and you did something very, very stupid.»

Platypus — a species of monotreme, an extremely rare species of mammal that lays eggs.

The man is due to stand trial on Saturday.