| Meet a Very Special Echidna |
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She is a young white Echidna - a naturally occurring albino - which though generally rare in the animal kingdom, does pop up quite a bit in Echidnas. This little Echidna has had some extra challenges, which, combined with her unusual colouring, resulted in her being rescued from the wild and spending time in care. She was first spotted being attacked by birds in the wild, and upon further observation, discovered to be very malnourished, with a swollen sunburnt beak, and weak hind legs. She was nursed back to health by a devoted wildlfe carer, and treated and assessed by a Vet. The Vet realised that her lack of speed and agility coupled with her reduced camouflage capability made her extremely vulnerable to attack by predators in the wild. It was decided that her best option for a happy healthy life was to live in a caring, protected natural environment that would cater for her needs, and that's where Potoroo Palace came in! Although she is still rather unsteady in her walk, and takes a few tumbles from time to time, she never gives up and gets where she is going in the end. We know that she has calcium deficiency in her hind limbs, and upon consultation with an echidna expert, it appears that she may also have a genetic malformation of the pelvis. However, that does not stop her from exploring and living life to the full in her brand new home!
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The newest addition to our Potoroo Palace family, a very plucky little survivor, moved in to her new enclosure next to the Lizard sunning area on Thursday 24th July after spending her mandatory six weeks in quarantine.