Puggles in trouble receive medical care at Aussie animal sanctuary
A couple of curious wildlife cases have found their way to an Australian wildlife hospital, with not one but two echidna puggles now receiving plenty of TLC after their dramatic survival
READING LEVEL: GREEN
An uncommon couple of curious wildlife cases have found their way to an Australian wildlife hospital, with not one but two echidna puggles needing a little extra TLC*.
The tiny orphaned* youngsters were both found in quite dramatic circumstances after being disturbed in their burrows by people doing end-of-year renovations. They were taken to Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria after one was accidentally dug up by an excavator* clearing a paddock, while the other was found under a slab of concrete at a building site.
It’s common for female echidnas to create burrows in random places at this time of year. Often, they will feed the puggles, then go wandering for a few days at a time. Their little ones can be left alone in the burrow for up to about 10 days.
Healesville Sanctuary’s life sciences manager – animal health Gerry Ross said when their wildlife hospital admits puggles, it usually means a burrow has been disturbed.
LOOK OUT, YOUNG WILDLIFE ABOUT
“People need to be mindful when they are out in the garden at this time of year, because there could be hidden wildlife,” Ms Ross said. “Puggles can be found in mulch piles that have been dug up, old burn heaps and even on construction sites.”
A wildlife carer was now looking after one of the puggles, and Ms Ross will raise the other one herself until it is old enough to find its own food and has developed the spikes needed to defend itself.
“The one I’m taking care of is a large baby, one of the largest babies I’ve ever come across,” Ms Ross said. “It’s feeding really well, every second day. Its eyes and ears were still closed, and it had fur all over when it came in, and now that’s changing. We are at the stage where eyes are open, ears are opening and the spines are coming through.”
It is hoped this not-so-prickly pair will return to the wild near where they were found once they are old enough.
ABOUT OUR UNUSUAL ECHIDNAS
Echidnas are an egg-laying mammal called a monotreme. They don’t have teats* to express milk like other animals. The mother’s milk is excreted* from mammary glands* on the stomach, in a way that looks like sweating. This milk is high fat, low lactose* to help the puggle grow. The puggle suckles the milk from mum’s stomach. They have teeny pink tongues.
Pink is very important to puggles in the wild for another reason: it’s the colour of their mother’s milk, due to its very high iron content. Puggles need this iron boost to support their rapid growth.
Wherever you are in Australia, if you come across an echidna puggle in your garden or local neighbourhood, your parents can contact your local wildlife carer.
Healesville Sanctuary’s Australian Wildlife Health Centre (AWHC) treats approximately 2000 wildlife patients annually and is open 365 days a year. Visitors can see the amazing veterinary work via internal glass walls of the hospital.
For more information visit zoo.org.au/emergency-wildlife-help or call the Australian Wildlife Health Centre on (03) 5957 2829. In the last financial year, 43 wild echidnas attended their wildlife hospital alone. This financial year, 24 have been cared for so far. Nine echidnas currently call Healesville home. Visitors can learn more about the cryptic critters in a daily close-up experience.
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GLOSSARY
- TLC: tender loving care
- orphaned: when a child is without parents
- excavator: a large, powerful machine with a deep bucket connected to a long arm, used for digging up the ground
- teat: part of a female mammal’s body through which milk passes to her babies
- excreted: released from the body
- mammary glands: milk-producing glands of a female mammal’s body
- lactose: a type of sugar that is found in milk
EXTRA READING
Echidna puggle in good hands after bumpy start
Tiny puggle recovers at Taronga
Robert Irwin urges kids to go wild in their own backyard
QUICK QUIZ
- From which two dangerous sites were the two puggles rescued?
- What are baby echidnas called?
- What is the proper name of an egg-laying mammal?
- Why is echidna milk pink in colour?
- What should you do if you come across a puggle or other native wildlife at your home?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Echidna life cycle
Using information gained from this news story, and further information that you research, draw an echidna life cycle. Your life cycle should show different stages of an echidna’s development and include precise captions.
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science
2. Extension
Echidnas are very unique looking animals. Imagine that you have to describe an echidna to a person who has never seen one and you cannot show them an image. You also cannot use comparisons to any other animals in your description. Write down what you would say to help them visualise the animal.
Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English
VCOP ACTIVITY
Animal alliterations
With a partner, choose one of the pictures from the article.
Make a list of nouns you could use to name the animal in the picture. For example, instead of a tiger, you could also say cat, or feline.
Pick your favourite noun and identify its initial sound — what sound it starts with, not necessarily what letter.
Now, using the initial sound, make a list of adjectives to describe the animal. Try to be specific. Don’t just look at the animal as a whole, look at their different features as well.
Build on these same sound words, and add any verbs and adverbs you could use to describe the animal and their movements.
Try to put it all together and use as many same sound words in a sentence, to create an alliteration about the animal in the picture. For example: the terrifying tiger, tiptoed through tangled trees chasing his prey.