And echidna-obsessed fans have plenty to be happy about, for an echidna puggle was hatched at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a first.

The San Diego Zoo is joining an international collaboration project to ensure the survival of one of nature’s truly unique animals — the platypus.

The San Diego Zoo will take part in a "world-first" study about the impacts of climate change on the platypus.

They were flown from Australia to San Diego in specially designed platypus transport crates, accompanied by their keeper from Taronga Zoo Sydney.