By Dean Murray
An adorable echidna named Snoopy has marked 40 years at a sanctuary.
The orphaned juvenile arrived at Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria, Australia, in 1985 and was deemed unsuitable to return to the wild as a youngster.
The hardy female has been living out her days in the simulated bushland haven and also enjoying an enrichment ball pit.
While Healesville Sanctuary mammal keeper Taylah Conlin wasn’t even born when Snoopy arrived, she loves taking care of this old monotreme in her twilight years.
“She is a little bit slower now that she’s older, but otherwise Snoopy is in good health,” Ms Conlin said.
Conlin admits for an elderly echidna, Snoopy still keeps up with Matilda, her 15-year-old roommate.
“We recently introduced a ball pit into their habitat as part of our enrichment strategy for our echidnas. It helps to promote natural behaviors such as foraging and maintain cognitive health by spiking their inquisitive nature, which we love to see,” Conlin said.
Echidnas have been known to live up to 50 years in a zoo setting, while in the wild, guidance on lifespan ranges from 14–40 years old.
It is believed their low body temperature and slow metabolism help them live longer.
