Breeding echidnas in captivity

该项目旨在为隐秘和秘密的针鼠繁殖模式提供新的见解，并使开发可靠的圈养繁殖方法成为可能。世界上任何一家动物园都没有可持续的针鼠繁育计划。这是必要的，因为大多数关于针鼠的研究都是以野外为基础的，所以不能被操纵来回答与它们的保护和生存相关的关键问题。该项目将利用短喙针鹭的新科学成果，提供与单孔动物保护、研究和教育相关的新知识，并使人们能够开发可靠的方法，在圈养条件下繁殖极度濒危的长喙针鹭。

This project aims to provide novel insights into the cryptic and secretive mode of the reproduction of echidnas, and enable development of reliable methods for breeding them in captivity. There has not been a sustainable breeding program for echidnas in any zoo world-wide. This is needed because most studies on echidnas have all been field-based, and so not open to manipulation to answer key questions relevant to their conservation and survival. Using novel scientific results on the short-beaked echidna, the project will provide new knowledge relevant to monotreme conservation, research and education, and enable the development of reliable methods for breeding the critically endangered, long-beaked echidna in captivity.