Matilda is a cute little anteater. But she had a tricky problem. She was allergic to ants!
Matilda, a short-beaked echidna, lives in an animal sanctuary in Australia. The staff noticed swelling around Matilda’s eyes. Tests confirmed an ant allergy was to blame.
The staff changed Matilda’s diet. They fed her termites and other insects. Veterinarians treated Matilda with allergy shots. Then they introduced small amounts of ants back into her diet.
Today Matilda is gobbling ants like other echidnas. Against all odds, says a sanctuary spokesperson, the treatment worked.