The echidnas at Healesville Sanctuary are looking for a potential mate by forming a love train.
Waddling closely behind one another with snout-to-rump, the stumpy, spiny anteaters are courting their love interests for periods lasting several hours. It’s a quirky behaviour that keepers describe as the first step to possible echidna puggles.
Healesville Sanctuary Mammal Keeper Craig McQueen said keepers are pairing different echidnas together and taking notes on which pairs are interested in each other.
“We have seen good behaviours from the couples. Two of the echidnas, named Lincoln and Snoopy, seemed pretty interested straight away,” Mr McQueen said.
“If breeding is successful, the female will retreat to a nesting burrow, where she will lay an egg and incubate, and a puggle will hatch from that egg approximately 10 days later. She will then keep the puggle in a pouch for the next few months.
“We have never bred echidnas at Healesville Sanctuary, but fingers crossed it may happen in the future.”
Echidna trains can last up to 10 hours a day for up to 6 weeks before mating eventually occurs. They are a mostly solitary species, so it is uncommon to see the train-like behaviour. In the wild, echidna trains can contain multiple animals.
Echidnas are monotremes and can be found right across Australia. Typical breeding occurs from late June to early September. The gestation period can be between 21 – 28 days.
Eight Short-beaked echidnas call Healesville Sanctuary home.
Zoos Victoria and Healesville Sanctuary visitors are reminded that all tickets must be pre-booked online at zoo.org.au. Zoos Victoria Members no longer need to book but are required to scan their Membership card to gain entry.
