A Chinese university student who hurled an echidna from a Brisbane bridge to test its survival has been barred from owning animals and ordered to do community service.

Zhenbo Gao, 24, admitted to stalking Australia's native wildlife, petting possums and chasing koalas before throwing the echidna to its death at Griffith University's Nathan campus in May 2018.

Chinese student Zhenbo Gao arrives at the Holland Park Magistrates Court in Brisbane on Wednesday. Credit:Dave Hunt/AAP

He was hunting lizards when he came across the adult echidna hiding in a bush, Holland Park Magistrates Court was told on Wednesday.

Gao picked it up before dropping the struggling mammal.