Echidnas have lots of ways to defend themselves. One lucky echidna even used her extra fat as padding when she was hit by a car. Her hefty size helped her survive unscathed.
Eleanor the Echidna / Image Credit: Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Get to Know Echidnas
Native to Australia, echidnas are part anteater, part platypus and part porcupine. These endearingly odd creatures have long, sticky tongues that are perfect for pulling ants from anthills. They also use their long noses as crowbars to dig up grubs and worms.
A video from the Smithsonian shows how this “waddling pincushion” uses her needles as defense. Even a dingo won’t touch a rolled-up echidna.
Echidnas have even been able to survive fires by burrowing underground and slowing down their systems.
Ella the Enchanted
Eleanor surpassed all these survival efforts. While on the hunt for ants or grubs, she was hit by a car.
The Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania rescued her. Rescuers noted that she was “quite possibly the fattest echidna we have ever seen!”
Her chubby size, they said, prevented her from being seriously injured when the car hit her.
Good News Was Welcome
The cute story made news in a country that could use some happy news in the wake of devastating bush fires that killed millions of animals.
Ella had only minor bruises, and the sanctuary released her into the wild the next day.
Here’s to hoping for more good animal news from the land down under.
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