PORT CLINTON, Ohio, September 2, 2022 — African Safari Wildlife Park’s newest resident is looking sharp. On August 24, crested porcupine Javelyn gave birth to a male pup, or “porcupette,” named Buckeye. This brings the total number of porcupines at the Park to eight individuals, though Javelyn and her youngster will stay behind the scenes for at least a few weeks.

The two orphaned skunks that recently came to live with Zoo Montana, Cody and Shane, are doing great!

Recently, Animal Care Staff has begun introductions between the two resident porcupines, Lander and Ross.

Currently, Shane and Cody are still a bit too small to be outside on their own, so officials estimate maybe another month until they can be outside full time!

About 20 cm long and 300 grams in weight, this is the size of the two South African porcupine pups that have arrived at Bioparc Fuengirola. These little ones were born early July at BIOPARC Valencia. Their mother was not prepared to raise them, something quite common in the first births of this species; an inexperience that leads to abandonment and that, on occasion, can cause the death of newborns.

The baby, born on June 25, is the third offspring for mom, Prickles, age 9, and dad, Shadow, age 10. The newest prickly addition was born on exhibit weighing just over one pound and is settling in well with the family in the Windows to the Wild space. Read more:

https://www.zoonewengland.org/zoo-news/2022/june/stone-zoo-welcomes-prehensile-tailed-porcupette/

Committed to Conservation: Zoo New England participates in the Prehensile-tailed Porcupine Species Survival Plan (SSP), a cooperative, inter-zoo program coordinated nationally through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). SSPs help to ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered, and enhance conservation of these species in the wild. This birth is the result of a recommended breeding between Prickles and Shadow.

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A tiny porcupette was born overnight on April 11th to African crested porcupines, Caleefa and Bristle at Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo.  The prickly new arrival is doing well.
 
Caleefa joined the prickle last October as a Species Survival Plan recommendation for Calgary’s porcupine brothers, Bristle and Rattle.  Caleefa was introduced to both males but it was quickly apparent that Bristle was her chosen mate as the pair settled together quickly.

A white-tailed porcupine has been born at Amersfoort Zoo. The baby can occasionally be seen outside. It is the second porcupette for this mother. The sex of the animal is not yet known. "We hope to get an answer to that soon," says animal caretaker Marc Belt. “We leave the young alone as much as possible. The mother is also very protective of the little one.”

The little porcupine keeps up well with the group and has already taken its first steps outside. “We have made a special staircase for this, so that he or she can easily walk out of the indoor accommodation,” Marc says. The other porcupines are also used to their new inhabitant. “They are often close to each other.”

MORE PHOTOS BELOW THE FOLD

Brookfield, Ill. – On March 19, the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, welcomed a new addition—a porcupette (baby porcupine) who was born on March 19. The newborn is being handreared by animal care staff after it was observed the porcupette’s mom, 9-year-old Lucia, was not providing her offspring proper maternal care.

The unsexed baby porcupine is thriving and being cared for around the clock by the animal care specialists. Currently, the porcupette is fed a formula, which was developed by CZS’s director of nutrition. As the baby develops, times between each feeding will increase until it is weaned at around 10 weeks old. Once weaned, staff will begin introducing the young porcupine to a diet consisting of a variety of vegetables, including sweet potato, green beans, corn, carrots, spinach, and kale, as well as a nutrient-based biscuit, peanuts, and sunflower seeds.

MORE PHOTOS BELOW!

Don’t be put off by Fofo’s prickly appearance! As his name implies, Smithsonian National Zoo's 8-week-old prehensile-tailed porcupette is as “cute” as can be! Get to know Fofo in this Q+A with Small Mammal House keepers Maria Montgomery and Mimi Nowlin.

Photos: Mimi Nowlin/Smithsonian’s National Zoo

African crested porcupine, Cleo, gave birth to three porcupettes earlier this month at Palm Beach Zoo. The family unit will stay in their outfitted night house for the time being with daily "house call" health care checks by our veterinary team and zoologists. All three newborns are currently happy and healthy, but one of them is growing a bit slower than its siblings. In the wild world, having a “runt” of a litter is not uncommon. Unfortunately, a weaker newborn is much less likely to survive in nature. Here, the runt gets a second chance! Our animal care team is prepared for such situations and made the necessary decision to intervene. He/she is being hand-raised by animal experts with the hopes of being reintroduced to its family when the time is right. Until then, he/she is loving the extra attention from our volunteer porcu-sitters and zoologists.

LOTS MORE PHOTOS BELOW THE FOLD! : Zoologist Jen R

Prehensile-tailed porcupines, like Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s 2-week-old porcupette, are born with the ability to climb! At birth, their quills are soft, but they harden within minutes. The name prehensile means “capable of grasping”; the underside of its tail lacks quills, allowing the porcupine to grip branches with this appendage and navigate the forest canopy with ease.