Our Porcupines are called Fiona and Shrek, we’re sure you can guess their Zookeepers favourite film! They love their food, especially pumpkins, so Halloween is definitely their favourite time of year, and they love a good lie-in, and usually go for a nice afternoon stroll. So if you’re trying to spot them, make sure you have a look a bit later in the day, as they might be out enjoying an evening walk!
This prickly species is native to Italy, Northern Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Easily identified by their back full of quills, they are one of the biggest rodents in the world! These mainly Nocturnal Herbivores tend to live in places like forests and rocky, mountainous locations, as well as Croplands and deserts. Underneath their coat of quills, they are covered in bristles all over their body.
The quills themselves are mostly used for self-defense and have light and dark bands, and they are easily detachable and tend to fall out on their own! At the end of their tails, they have what’s called ‘Rattle Quills, which they can shake to produce a Hiss-like rattle, to try and scare off predators.
Being nocturnal, they spend most of their time in burrows! They have monogamous relationships, and a baby is called a Porcupette!
