AssetID: 55040760
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Australian Zoo Celebrates 'Once-In-A-lifetime' Arrival Of Ultra-Rare Puggle
Caption: An Australian zoo is celebrating an extraordinary new arrival – its very first echidna puggle. The tiny creature, a baby echidna, is so unusual that its birth has been described as something straight out of science fiction. Unlike most mammals, echidnas don’t give birth to live young. Instead, they lay eggs. Once hatched, the jellybean-sized newborn nestles in a pouch on its mother’s stomach, feeding on milk until it begins to grow its protective spines. At that point, the devoted mum creates a burrow where the baby can continue to develop safely. These bizarre animals are part of a tiny, ancient group of mammals known as monotremes – found only in Australia and New Guinea. Their only surviving relative is the platypus. Scientists say monotremes are evolutionary survivors, dating back to the dawn of mammalian life, which makes them among the rarest and most fascinating creatures on the planet. Breeding echidnas, however, is notoriously difficult. Only a handful of institutions in Australia have ever succeeded, which is why this birth is being hailed as a major breakthrough for the Australian Reptile Park. In a twist worthy of a fantasy epic, the mother has been named Jon Snow – after keepers originally thought she was male. During a routine veterinary exam, staff were stunned to discover a squirming puggle hidden in her pouch. "To see a baby echidna is something most people will never witness in their lives," said Life Sciences Manager Hayley Shute. "I couldn’t be prouder of my team and their incredible animal husbandry, which was able to make this happen." For now, the baby will stay tucked safely inside its mother’s pouch for around three months before making its grand, spiky debut to the world. Echidnas are among just two egg-laying mammals in existence, alongside the platypus. Covered in coarse fur and sharp spines, they are shy and solitary creatures. Their specialised diet consists almost entirely of ants and termites, which they scoop up using a long, sticky tongue.
Keywords: feature,photo feature,photo story
PersonInImage: