Two Baby Porcupines Born at The Living Desert, Public Will Name Them

The Living Desert's animal residency increased by two this weekend, as the local zoo welcomed two baby porcupines into the fold, zoo officials announced Thursday.

The two babies– known as porcupettes– were born May 4 to proud porcupine parents Nasura (male) and Skittles (female), the zoo said in a news release.

"It’s always exciting when new life is born here and these little porcupettes couldn’t be cuter," says Stacey Johnson, President/CEO of The Living Desert. "These two prickly newbies will no doubt charm our visitors with their fascinating traits and personalities."

The family of four African crested porcupines are now on exhibit, and the two babies are due for their "well-baby" exam soon– which is when their sex(es) will be determined.  

The two porcupettes don't have names yet, and the zoo plans on hosting a naming contest.  More details on that contest are expected soon.

With their births, the zoo now has a total of five African crested porcupines and two North American porcupines.

Here are some fun facts on the African crested porcupine, provided by the Living Desert:

• The African crested porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world. 
• At birth, baby porcupines are born with open eyes and have soft quills, which harden quickly once exposed to air, in about 30 minutes. Quills are actually modified hair and contrary to popular belief, porcupines do not shoot or throw their quills as a defense. 
• African crested porcupines have tail quills that make a hissing sound when rattled. When threatened, they will raise and fan their quills to look bigger, stamp their feet, and whirr the quills in warning and then charge backward to stab the offender. These attacks are known to have killed lions, leopards, hyenas, and even humans.
• African crested porcupines are terrestrial and rarely climb, but can swim. 
• The animals are nocturnal herbivores and within about two weeks will begin eating vegetation. 
• Like all rodents, a porcupine's incisor teeth continuously grow and are kept sharp by continuous wear against each other. 
• Porcupines are very nearsighted, but have a keen sense of smell and hearing.