The Australian Reptile Park has reached an adorable milestone.
Welcoming not one but two echidna puggles on display for the very first time, creating what may be the cutest tongue twister in the country with Piggle and Puddin the puggles. The pair are the first echidnas ever hatched in the Park’s history.
Now home to six echidnas on display, the Park is offering visitors a rare opportunity to see these elusive young monotremes up close as they explore their habitat alongside their parents and feed on termites.
“Breeding echidnas is quite difficult, so to finally have two hatched here in the Park’s history is amazing,” Seleena said.
Puddin has only just emerged from their den after being raised entirely by mum, who built such a secure and well-hidden burrow that keepers were left waiting weeks without knowing if the tiny echidna had survived.
Head Mammals Keeper Seleena De Gelder said the team placed full trust in mum during this critical stage. To monitor progress, the team set up trail cameras and kept a close watch, waiting for the first glimpse. When Puddin finally appeared, keepers carried out a full health check and were thrilled to confirm the young puggle was perfectly healthy.
“Mum had made such a beautiful den that it was a bit difficult for us to get regular observations on Puddin, so we left mum to do her job,” Seleena said.
At six months old, Puddin is still developing their spines and has noticeably darker fur. Confident and curious, Puddin has already taken to the yard, happily exploring and moving about.
Joining Puddin is Piggle, now eight months old, who takes after her mum with lighter colouring and soft brown spikes. Piggle is a little more reserved, often tucking herself away in carefully chosen hiding spots, though just as charming.
The arrival and successful development of both puggles marks a significant achievement for the Australian Reptile Park.
“What’s even more special is that visitors now have the chance to see these puggles in person. It’s incredibly rare to see an echidna puggle in the wild or in captivity.”
With only a short window before the puggles grow older and more independent, the Australian Reptile Park is encouraging visitors to make the most of the school holidays and see Piggle and Puddin while they are still young.
Echidnas are one of only two egg-laying mammals in the world, alongside the platypus. Native to Australia and parts of New Guinea, they use their long, sticky tongues to feed on ants and termites. The female lays a single leathery egg, which hatches after about 10 days, with the baby, known as a puggle, remaining in the mother’s pouch for around 90 days before moving into a burrow to continue developing.