Baby Echidna 'Puggly' Feasts on Milk at Alice Springs Wildlife Park

A spike-covered rescue puggle — otherwise known as a baby echidna — enjoyed a drink of milk at a wildlife park in Alice Springs.

Before they grow their spines, the Australian native animals have only short ‘spikes’ covering their skins.

In this video, posted to Facebook by Alice Springs Desert Park on March 8, a baby echidna named ‘Puggly’ can be seen feeding. The post said that the animals could drink up to a quarter of their body weights in one sitting.

“Did you know puggles store the fat and nutrients they get from their milk, which can be seen through the skin on their rump before they get spines?” the post said.

“They take a long time to digest the milk, and when feeding time comes around again three to five days later, they will drink approximately 15-25% of their body weight!” Credit: Alice Springs Desert Park via Storyful