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Crested porcupines now at Wellington Zoo
15 May 2006
Three newly arrived crested porcupines are now on display at Wellington Zoo.
Three crested porcupines have been released into their purpose-built enclosure at Wellington Zoo following a long plane trip from Marwell Zoo in England.
Part of an Australasian Species Management Programme (ASMP), the Zoo hopes to breed the porcupines, if a suitable female mate can be found.
"Although crested porcupines aren't endangered at the moment, we know we will need an insurance population should they become endangered in the future," says Simon.
An enclosure has been specially built to house the porcupines with much planning having gone into the enclosure to stop the creatures digging or chewing their way out.
"Porcupines are renowned for digging and chewing, so we've put a concrete base in their houses and steel reinforcing mesh throughout the rest of the enclosure to stop them finding themselves on the other side of the fence," says Wellington Zoo Manager, Infrastructure, Shane Whittaker.
Native to countries in the lower half of Africa, porcupines have about 30,000 quills on their bodies. The quills are thought to be hairs evolved over time to become thick, solid spikes, used to defend themselves if a predator comes into contact with them.
"There's a myth out there that porcupines shoot out their quills. Rest assured, this isn't true and Zoo visitors will be very safe on their side of the railing," says Simon.
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