Piggie the echidna has survived her abduction and is safe back at home in a Gold Coast wildlife sanctuary.
The four-year-old monotreme was found back in her enclosure at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary about 6pm on Monday.
A 24-year-old man has been assisting police with their inquiries.
Piggie's two abductors were caught on camera breaking into an enclosure at the sanctuary about 10pm on Saturday.
They tried to steal two echidnas before fleeing with the more friendly Piggie.
While the bizarre theft might have seemed like a good idea at the time, the "echidnappers" were the subject of a police manhunt and presumably had a smelly, spiky animal to deal with.
The sanctuary's general manager, Michael Pyne, said it is extremely difficult to imagine a motive for the heartless theft given the echidna is one of the worst animals to steal.
"They are difficult to hold, difficult to feed and they're stinky," the senior veterinarian told AAP.
"There's no market for echidnas. You can't sell them and they certainly don't make a good pet."
Dr Pyne said before Piggie was found: "I can only hope it's a silly prank and they bring Piggie back."
Grave fears were held for Piggie, the first echidna successfully bred at the sanctuary.
She was unlikely to survive for long without specialised care.
"I'll be very concerned if we don't have her back within three days," Dr Pyne had said.
His wish came true and the thieves showed some heart and gave her back to the sanctuary.
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