(10 photos) – I had an hour up my sleeve so though I’d go for a bushwalk. Within 20 meters of leaving the car, I spotted an echidna so spent the next hour with him instead.
I quickly put on the 12-40mm F2.8 Pro lens, hoping I would get close enough without scaring it. After rolling into a ball and hiding behind a tree, it took around 10 minutes before it even lifted it’s head for the first shot above.
It was very shy to start with, every time it heard my shutter it would duck it’s head and hide again, but slowly it began getting more confident.
I gradually got lower and moved in closer, trying to anticipate it’s direction and not scare it. The trust slowly began to build …
It eventually headed straight for me … and I still can’t believe what happened next …
This shy, wild echidna actually crawled right under my legs, one of the best wildlife encounters I’ve ever had.
Echidna’s are mammals that lay eggs and have a pouch. The only other living animal like this is the Platypus. The spines are actually hairs, the shorter fur keeps them warm. They don’t have teeth and their tongue can be 15cm long.
TasView 
I had a very similar experience when we toured Tassie in 2016. We spotted an echidna as we were driving, so I pulled up for a closer look and photos. He moved closer and closer, and eventually stuck his snout up my trouser leg. Luckily I’d changed my socks that morning, so he survived 🙂. Truly unbelievable experience. Photo in this post:
https://platypuspandemonium.wordpress.com/2016/11/29/a-close-encounter/
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Ha ha, maybe they think we have ants in our pants!!
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Wow!
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Thanks 😀
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I’ve never seen this animal, wow! 😳😊
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Thanks, glad I could show you something new and … well, kinda strange!
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Oh, wow! What an experience this must have been. I almost felt as if I were there, with tears prickling my eyes at the echidna coming so close. Great pictures! An experience you’ll remember forever!
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Thank you, It was very special 😀 I’d love to have a similar experience with a platypus – my daughter and her friend had a wild one swim between their legs!
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That must have been amazing! What a thrill for them.
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They got it on video, I’ve been up there a few times since but never seen it
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How cute is that? The echidna must have sensed your friendly energy. 🙂
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Thanks, I never knew I put out positive echidna vibes 🤩
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Great photos! Such fascinating (and cute!) animals!
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Thanks, if I didn’t have to go to work I would have stayed another hour! 🙂
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Wow! That is so incredible! What a cute animal!
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WOW! What a privilege! Thanks for sharing your echidna experience. Just magic.
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My pleasure 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
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WOW … never heard of this critter before … great captures. It looks like a cross between a porcupine and hedgehog!
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Thank you, I’m glad I was able to show you something new and pretty special. Unlike the porcupine and hedge hog, the echidna lays eggs, has a pouch for it’s young and produces milk!
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What an interesting little animal. Nice shots!
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Thank you 😀
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Oh they are so great your shots. Such a beautiful face and swear it looks like its smiling. We live in a delightful place.
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Ooops was not finished. How incredible to have it so curious, and so close. I would have probably fainted.lol My one that visits my garden is so sweet.
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I hope it keeps visiting you, they are facilitating creatures to watch!
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