An albino echidna was caught wandering a property in Inman Valley, South Australia, as seen in this video shared to Facebook on July 1 by local woman Kerryn Pearsons. The pale creature appeared to be foraging for food as it hurried about poking its beak into parts of the lawn. 'A rare find on our place today. Dad's a bit excited!' the uploader said in a caption alongside the video. Credit: Kerryn Pearsons via Storyful

A Chinese university student who hurled an echidna from a two-storey bridge in Brisbane to test its survival is due to be sentenced today.

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

He was hunting for lizards when he came across an adult echidna hiding in a bush, the court was told.

He picked it up before dropping the struggling animal which balled up under a ramp and buried itself in the dirt to hide.

Gao threw rocks the size of a football to force the animal into the open before tossing the echidna from the bridge to see if it could survive. The animal died after landing on the concrete.

An autopsy report revealed the “terrified” echidna suffered significant pain and died from blunt force trauma.

The report said the echidna, a young adult, had broken quills, haemorrhaging around the skull and extensive bruising.

“The findings of the autopsy indicate that the echidna died from blunt force trauma and would have endured significant pain and suffering, as well as fear and terror, in the process,” the statement of facts state.

Gao told RSPCA inspectors that he had never seen an echidna before and was “curious” and threw the animal from the second storey height to see if it would handle the fall.

He claimed he never intended to kill the animal, but wanted to take it home and study it.

Gao has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in Holland Park Magistrates Court.

Defence lawyers told the court the event planning student was “deeply remorseful” and had brought great shame to his family.

Gao’s mother travelled from China to support her son in court. He is expected to be sentenced this afternoon.