The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has announced the hatching of rare echidna twins, according to UPI Odd News. Echidnas are egg-laying mammals native to Australia and New Guinea.
The zoo said the baby echidnas, known as puggles, are the first twins to hatch from eggs laid by the same mother in the same mating season at an Association of Zoos and Aquariums facility in North America.
One of the puggles is being raised by its mother, Kathryn, in an underground burrow. The other is being cared for at the Safari Park’s Harter Veterinary Care Center because veterinarians determined its smaller size made it more vulnerable.
According to the zoo, veterinarians have been using regular ultrasounds to monitor how quickly the smaller echidna digests formula and to fine-tune its feeding schedule. Officials said the experience will help guide echidna care at the Safari Park and across SDZWA’s Australian Forest Conservation Hub.
