Happy Birthday, Leo!

Symbio Wildlife Park recently supplied a very special setting for a very special birthday: Leo, a rare albino echidna, who turned six years old. Leo and his girlfriend Rex were treated to a picnic on the grass on a sunny Australian winter’s day. Leo, who was found wandering alone without his mum, lacks the natural coloring to help him survive in the wild, so he makes Symbio his full-time home, where he’ll surely enjoy many more birthdays to come.




Sent in by Sharon H., who noticed a distinct lack of echidna on this site.

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25 thoughts on “Happy Birthday, Leo!

  1. Elizabeth August 19, 2016 / 4:34 pm

    I love animal birthdays. Happy birthday, Leo!

  2. Murray C. August 19, 2016 / 5:04 pm

    He’s beautiful – sort of the Johnnie Winter oh Echidnas! So happy he was found.

  3. Flowerfanatic August 19, 2016 / 5:19 pm

    I’ve never seen an albino one before. He’s gorgeous!! And glad he’s got a happy home so he can have a long healthy life!!

  4. JenDeyan August 19, 2016 / 6:00 pm

    An albino echidna? You’ve got to be e-kidding me. Am I right?! I’ll be here all week!

  5. Phred's Mom August 19, 2016 / 6:03 pm

    . . . and his girlfriend is named Rex?

  6. Faye August 19, 2016 / 6:30 pm

    Tongue thwipping is awesome. Such a sweet couple. Another kind of love tank.

  7. Gigi the cat lady August 19, 2016 / 6:44 pm

    I hope Leo is not shy, because being tongue tied would be a BIG problem for him.

    • allein ? August 19, 2016 / 8:18 pm

      Being shy sucks, and I don’t even have a long thwippy (thanks, Faye!) tongue.

      • Murray C. August 19, 2016 / 8:30 pm

        Allein, are you shy? I wouldn’t have guessed. I’m shy, too, but not like I used to be. I usually just needed “permission” from whomever I was interacting with to not be shy and I was off to the races. But in high school I was even shy of girls (I went to an all girls school!) – in other words, everybody. I’m at the age now where I don’t much care anymore – I know more about human nature.☺️

        • allein ? August 19, 2016 / 8:35 pm

          I am. Online is easy; in person not so much. It doesn’t bother me too much most of the time but sometimes I wish I could say what’s on my mind more easily. Like, “hey, I like you” to a certain person, perhaps. 😉

          • Murray C. August 19, 2016 / 8:51 pm

            Yeah, that’s the worst. I have to admit that it wasn’t ’til I was married that my shyness took a back seat. If only there was a way to impart that sense of freedom from being shy – I would do it in a trice. Your true self is your relaxed self – but you know all that. ?

            • allein ? August 19, 2016 / 9:14 pm

              Hard to relax around someone you like. Especially when he’s really hard to read.

              • fkaWaldenPond August 19, 2016 / 9:22 pm

                Allein, I think you have to gather the courage, set the goal and simply tell him, “I really like you.”. You are not getting weird or heavy… make it as natural (as it is) as stating the sunset is gorgeous today… Like, “Hey, I really like you.” State it without expectation of anything and you have got it off your chest;
                It may be liberating.
                And… for the record, I cannot stand cutesy kid, ukulele, chimey diaper music. ugh. sorry to be the party pooper on the musical accompaniment.

                • allein ? August 19, 2016 / 9:27 pm

                  I know. I only see him when he’s working, though, which makes it hard to talk. Saw him today and chatted for a few minutes but then his phone rang and he got called away. Though I have in the past threatened to drag him out of there by his hair because he works too much, so maybe one of these days I should ask him if he’ll let me.

                  • Murray C. August 19, 2016 / 10:15 pm

                    There you go, ask him out for coffee. Something really non- threatening, noncommittal. Discuss a book. ? Girlfriend, we are on your side!!!

                    Ps I asked my husband to marry me!?

                    • fkaWaldenPond August 19, 2016 / 10:22 pm

                      Ok, so word it, “Hey, I really like talking with you; anytime you want to grab a quick coffee, let me know, I can tell you further about…*insert what you were talking about here.*”
                      Make it light and fluffy, no pressure.
                      (Also, since you mentioned dragging him out by his hair… take care of business before hand…something about mary styles.)

                  • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 10:59 am

                    You could ask for help with some legitimate
                    thing, men like being knights, after all, and
                    offer coffee or iced tea along with it. Keep
                    it light and casual. If he seems skittish, don’t
                    press, just stay sweetly pleasant. Bonne chance.

                • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 11:01 am

                  with you on the cutesy music, Murray.
                  I cut the sound by the third note if I’m slow.

            • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 10:54 am

              My mouth would go dry if I had to give a book report in
              junior high in front of the whole class; the quintessential
              “seen but not heard” kid until I was around thirty. Moved,
              met several new people who accepted me right up front
              and made me realize it was ok to be me. Ended up
              actually performing on a stage – singing, dancing, playing
              an instrument, on a frequent basis. Came out of my
              protective shell and have been unafraid since. Still am
              quiet, but not shy any longer. True liberation.

  8. murkle46 August 19, 2016 / 8:41 pm

    A box full of ants for his birthday?Lucky!Thats what I wanted for mine!

  9. sugitomo August 20, 2016 / 9:31 am

    Hard party-er. I can see he’s the type who destroys the furnishings when really gets celebrating. On a side note, love the snout!

  10. debg August 20, 2016 / 10:15 am

    We have been experiencing a distinct lack of echidna on this site, Mike. Thanks for rectifying the situation.

    • Smartypants August 20, 2016 / 1:19 pm

      Yes, I’m glad that our ‘echid-needs’ are being met 😀

  11. allein ? August 20, 2016 / 1:55 pm

    Today’s my friend’s birthday so I posted this video on her FB page and told her to party like an albino echidna. 🙂

    • 6rabbits August 21, 2016 / 8:38 pm

      ??

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