Until he saw one up close, Zach didn't know echidnas could be white. He didn't realise just how lucky he was to spot this rare animal in Tasmania's wilderness.

Quick read

  • Hobart resident Zach was on a trip around the west coast of Tasmania when he spotted a white animal on the side of the road, which turned out to be an echidna.
  • A zoologist says echidnas with this colouring in the wild are rare, with exact numbers unclear.
  • Experts say it could be an albino, or that its colouring may be caused by a genetic condition called leucism.