Abby French of Reidsdale, New South Wales, was delighted when four echidnas gathered curiously at her feet on Tuesday, August 29.

It is possible what French witnessed was an “echidna love train”, a mating ritual where several male echidnas follow a female until she chooses who among them to breed with.

“I think I’m having the sweetest dream ever,” French wrote about the encounter. “They must have thought I was part of the tree I was hiding in as echidnas are usually very shy and would not knowingly approach people,” she told Storyful. Credit: Abby French via Storyful