Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary echidna found safe and well

Piggie, the echidna stolen from her enclosure at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary at the weekend, has been found safe and well, if not a little shaken.

CCTV footage had shown Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary management and the Queensland Police a masked intruder stealing Piggie from her enclosure on Saturday night (1st August).

Authorities said the four-year-old echidna had been found safe and well in bushland outside the attraction on Monday evening.

With Queensland Police having arrested a man in relation to the theft, his lawyer has attempted to dismiss the theft as an alcohol-fuelled prank.

Police said two men were caught on security cameras cutting away netting to gain access to an enclosure containing a number of echidnas.

They tried to remove three different echidnas from nesting boxes without success, until they got to Piggie, a four-year-old breeding female, who was friendlier and easier to manage.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Senior veterinarian Dr Michael Pyne said Piggie was found on Monday night wandering on the wrong side of the fence at the sanctuary.

Dr Pyne, said details were "sketchy" on when Piggie was dumped there, with Police being told it could have been as early as Sunday.

Dr Pyne stated “she certainly didn't go far.”

Having undergone blood tests and X-rays, which had come back clear, Dr Pyne said he could tell Piggie was uncomfortable and had been through an ordeal.

Dr Pyne added "I really don't think there was any deliberate injuries done to her.

"Her spines were all intact. I think her tenderness was just from inappropriate handling and everything she had been through."

After a good night's sleep, Piggie has eaten and is moving a bit around her enclosure and appeared to be settling in.

Dr Pyne stated "I believe she was released (by the suspect) yesterday evening sometime, so we went to the spot where she was released, which was on the other side of the sanctuary boundary ... in a bushland area.

"And bless her, Piggie had only moved about 10 metres and found a great little spot to hide and wedged herself underneath a tree log."

Dr Pyne said it was fortunate staff had found her when they did.

He concluded “we may have never seen her again if she spent another night outside.

"She may well have disappeared all together and it's just wonderful to have Piggie home.

"Echidnas are very hard to find and if she had wandered off, right deep into that bushland, we probably would never have found her.

"We're very fortunate to get her."

Piggie was the first captive-bred echidna that had been managed at the sanctuary.

Images of Piggie courtesy of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

4th March 2013 - CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY FAREWELLS HOLEY THE CROCODILE

3rd May 2012 - TOURISTS FINED FOR SEA WORLD PENGUIN-NAPPING