PUGGLE!

[den]

A baby echidna, about 1 month old. This is the smallest echidna I have ever seen, let alone try to raise. Fipps was twice this size when I got him.

Comments

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

PUGGLE! Woot!

All that previous experience means I think you're the best person to do this. Go you!

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

aw. sweet little thing. best wishes for success!

[siouxsyn.livejournal.com]

Looking forwards to updates. I have so many questions but I can look them up by myself :)

They look more like platypuses at that age.

[elynne.livejournal.com]

It looks like a tiny plucked bird of some kind, and yet is strangely adorable. :D Yay!

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[iamjw.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's very cute, in an odd alien sort of way. So small, too.

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

Awwwww!:)
My goodness, that is small!
Look at those amazing little claws!
It'll be striking terror into the hearts of termites in no time!
Go, puggle!

[betnoir.livejournal.com]

Uhhmmm...where are the eyes?

Seriously, man, that's freaky.

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

Hi, new baby echidna!

[jazzerat.livejournal.com]

Are you sure that isn't a chunk of plucked chicken in your hand there?

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I dub him...Picard.

Good luck!

[blue-mirage21.livejournal.com]

omg how horribly wonderful! Best of luck with him <3

[phoenixineohp.livejournal.com]

I saw your post in the baby animals thread. It really scared me because I didn't realize that you worked in animal rehab. I figured some one had gotten the bright idea to take in a puggle and try and raise it. As a zoo keeper myself, I've seen people take on what they should really pass off to others. So I am utterly thrilled to find that you are the right person for the job. I found out by following the links from http://ursulav.deviantart.com/art/Echidna-Milk-31075836 and arrived here. I am so sorry to hear that things did not turn out well. As for how they eat, I watched some episodes of The Life of Mammals in my Mammalogy class. They inserted a camera probe into the den of a platypus and I think I remember watching the baby feed. I wonder if it would be similar or helpful in any way. It may at least give you a bit more to go on. In any case, I am so happy to have found another person doing this type of work and look forward to reading about your adventures. Take care.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

When it became obvious that I wouldn't get him to drink I handed him over to the local zoovets, and even they couldn't get him to eat even with tube feeding. We (other rescuers, the vets and myself) have reached the conclusion that any puggle under 150g has a very poor prognosis. It won't stop us trying.

The really disappointing thing is that more platypuses have been bred in captivity than echidnas. If your zoo succeeds, please let me know what you did. We would like to know.

By the way, photos of my last successful rehab: http://www.flickr.com/photos/60065126@N00/sets/72157594337825702/

[phoenixineohp.livejournal.com]

I've been reading more of your stories and yes, there does seem to be a weight and survival correlation. :(
Our local zoo does have a pair of echidnas, though I don't know if they are a male/female set, or if they have had any breeding or attempted any breeding. I haven't worked with them, though I would love to. I've actually only seen them moving once. One very lucky day both were up and doing laps of their enclosure. If I come across anything though, I'll let you know. :)