Photo: Lincoln Baker

Two puggles, or baby echidnas, have made their first public appearance at the Perth Zoo in Australia today. The babies’ names are Moa and Kain.

Echidnas have proven difficult to breed in zoos with only 13 echidnas ever born in captivity in Australia. Zoo keepers have learned that precise temperature regulation is key to breeding success.

In the wild, female echidnas develop a pouch during mating season (July-August). After mating, she will dig a burrow and lay one soft, leathery egg into her pouch. After 10 days, the puggle will hatch and attach itself to a milk patch inside her pouch. After 8-12 week of nursing inside the pouch, the puggle will develop spines and must vacate the pouch. But the juvenile will still stay inside the burrow for the next 6 months and continue to suckle.

To learn more about Moa and Kain, see: PerthNow.

To learn more about echidnas, see Animal Fact Guide’s article: Short-beaked Echidna.