The San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido has welcomed exceptionally rare twin echidna puggles; usually echidnas lay only one egg per season. One puggle remains with its mother in an underground burrow, while the other is receiving round-the-clock care at the park’s Harter Veterinary Medical Center after failing to gain weight. Veterinary staff report steady improvement and say the case has already yielded valuable insights into echidna neonatal care. Echidnas are monotremes — egg-laying mammals related to the platypus — with an ancient evolutionary lineage.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park Welcomes Rare Twin Echidna 'Puggles' — One Receiving Veterinary Care
San Diego Zoo Welcomes Rare Echidna Twins: What You Need to Know
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido has celebrated the rare birth of twin echidna young — known as "puggles" — a noteworthy event because female echidnas typically lay only one egg each breeding season. The arrival of twins marks an important conservation and husbandry milestone for the park.
What Happened: One puggle remains with its mother in an underground nursery burrow where she is being raised naturally. The other puggle failed to gain sufficient weight and was transferred to the Safari Park’s Harter Veterinary Medical Center for continuous monitoring and supportive care.
Care And Progress
Veterinary and animal care teams report the puggle in intensive care is responding well to treatment and gaining strength under around-the-clock attention. Staff say lessons learned from this case are already informing improved practices for echidna neonate husbandry and will help guide future breeding and conservation efforts.
Why Echidnas Are Special
Echidnas are monotremes — a tiny group of egg-laying mammals that also includes the platypus. Experts describe echidnas as among the world's oldest surviving species, with a lineage that stretches back to prehistoric eras. Their unusual biology and solitary nesting habits make neonatal care and breeding particularly challenging.
Visitor Experiences
Beyond the echidnas, the Safari Park offers a variety of experiences for visitors, including an up-close Cheetah Run, safari-style excursions through giraffe habitat, and overnight "Roar & Snore" stays. The park advertises Roar & Snore rates that can be competitive with local hotels (around $205 per night).
This story was originally published by Parade on July 18, 2026. The Safari Park’s twin puggles are a rare and encouraging sign for ongoing conservation programs, and staff remain optimistic about both youngsters as care protocols continue to improve.
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