Weja the Echidna Puggle Spends First Night Without Human Foster Mom

Storyful
2 年前

An orphaned echidna puggle in Sydney, Australia, hit a big milestone in its journey back to the wild when it spent its first night without its human foster mom at the Taronga Wildlife Hospital on February 4.

Footage shows the development of Weja, an approximately 5-month-old echidna puggle, from when it first came into Taronga Wildlife Hospital to being able to spend time away from its carers.

Taronga Veterinary Nurse Elizabeth McConnell had been caring for Weja since it arrived at the hospital and taking the puggle home every night. She said, “I’m feeling a little nervous,” but the echidna has been “exploring a lot more, it’s more active and it has begun digging. It doesn’t need to be at home with me anymore.”

Taronga Wildlife Hospital is working toward weaning Weja off echidna milk formula so that the team can begin preparing the monotreme for its release into the wild. Credit: Taronga Conservation Society Australia via Storyful