Porcupine
(Hystrix Africaeaustralis)
- Length 60cm
- Weight 18-23kg
- Breeding Up to 4 young
- Gestation 7-8 weeks
- Longevity 20 years
Zambia’s largest and heaviest rodent, the Porcupine is unmistakable; covered in black hair and a forest of black and white quills and spines. The quills are short, rigid and sharp; the spines are long, flexible and sharp. When erect, they present a formidable sight, seemingly doubling the Porcupine in size.
Porcupines are common and widespread in the South
Luangwa Valley; however, due to their nocturnal nature, they are usually only seen
on night drives. Often spotted when out on a walking safari, are the
discarded quills and their droppings, which have a ‘date stone’ appearance
– suggesting just how common these animals are to the area.
Porcupines are normally solitary animals, and they are mainly vegetarians, eating a variety of roots and fruits. After a night’s foraging they retreating to a cave or hollow, which is sometimes shared with others.
When provoked a Porcupine will charge backwards at speed impaling the attacker with its quills. The popular belief that a Porcupine can shoot its quills at its enemy is untrue. The Porcupine does not have that many predators, although it isn’t that uncommon to come across a Porcupine’s quills in lion droppings (ouch).
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