The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio, has welcomed a rare echidna baby, known as a puggle, after a three-year breeding effort by its animal care team.

The zoo said the baby echidna was born in December and is being monitored closely as it continues to grow. The puggle joins its mother, Edna, and adds to a small North American population of echidnas living in professional care.

Rare Puggle at Columbus Zoo Draws Attention

Senior Specialist Wild Encounters Amber Kyle said many visitors are unfamiliar with echidnas before seeing them at the zoo. She said animal ambassadors such as Edna and the new puggle help introduce guests to a species they may not otherwise encounter.

According to the zoo, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is one of only 12 zoos in North America with echidnas on site, making the birth a notable development for the Powell, Ohio, facility.

What Makes Echidnas Unusual

Echidnas are native to Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. They are among the rare mammals that hatch from eggs. In early development, a baby echidna spends time in a pouch before being moved to a protected dirt burrow.

Zoo staff said echidnas are well adapted to life underground. Kyle noted that if dirt enters an echidna’s nose, the animal can clear its airways by blowing bubbles from the nose.

Zoo Team Monitoring Baby Echidna’s Growth

The zoo said Edna checks on the puggle only every couple of days, so staff members are carefully tracking the baby’s weight and development. Kyle said the puggle’s weight may drop during stretches when the mother is not visiting, but the team is watching to make sure any decline is not excessive.

The birth gives visitors at the Columbus Zoo a rare chance to learn about echidnas, a species still uncommon in North American zoos. For the zoo, the successful breeding effort also highlights the behind-the-scenes animal care work needed to support rare species.