I didn’t realise there was a fourth species<p>I had to rescue a horny short nosed one which had trapped itself between gutters on a high speed road while looking for a mate a few years ago<p>These things are <i>STRONG</i>. The spikes aren’t much of a concern if you’re trying to pick one up, but it’s essentially a sphere of pure muscle and bones
The egg laying by the females is interesting. But what’s four times as interesting is the structure of the male’s business end.<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echidna" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echidna</a>
Named after Sir. David Attenborough no less. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67382235" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67382235</a>
I hope Indonesians start appreciating more what they have.
Although I doubt this is possible without significantly improving their living standard first.<p>There is open wildlife trade on the Sunday market near my place. Birds, monkeys, lizards, snakes, sugar gliders, and some unknown to me "things".<p>The nearest police office is about 20 meters from it.
This animal would be so much more obscure if it weren't for Sega's publicity campaign [0].<p>[0] <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knuckles_the_Echidna" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knuckles_the_Echidna</a>
Strange to see West Papua plainly described as Indonesia.<p>It’s a great video. The feeling of euphoria is very real and in the vast and in the isolated jungles of Maritime South East Asia there is a little thrill knowing just how isolated you are.<p>On an island. In a jungle. Miles from the airport via river and foot. On a mountain.
> <i>The echidna is embedded in the local culture, including a tradition that states conflicts are resolved by sending one party to a disagreement into the forest to search for the mammal and another to the ocean to find a marlin, according to Yongsu Sapari elders cited by the university. Both creatures were seen as so difficult to find that it would often take decades or a generation to locate them. But once found, the animals symbolized the end of the conflict and a return to harmonious relationships.</i><p>If only all worldly conflicts could be resolved so peacefully.