IUCN Conservation Status –
Least Concern
Extinct In The Wild
Class: Mammals
Order: Rodentia
Family: Hystricidae
We have a pair of Cape porcupines here at Paignton Zoo, a male called Comet and a female called Luna. The pair came to us from Lotherton Zoo in Leeds in July 2024, and live in our Arid Lands exhibit.
Cape porcupines are native to sub-Saharan Africa, and can be found in a wide range of habitats, including grasslands, forests and rocky areas. These rodents primarily eat fruits, roots, tubers, bulbs, and bark.
Interesting facts!
- Cape porcupines are the largest rodents in Africa and also the world’s largest porcupines.
- They are excellent climbers, having been known to climb trees and shrubs to escape predators
- As monogamous animals, cape porcupines form long-term pair bonds. The female gives birth to one to three offspring after a gestation period of around 94 days.
Conservation
The Cape Porcupine is currently listed as a Least Concern species, due to its wide distribution, presumed large population, and its occurrence in a number of protected areas.
However, it’s worth noting that their population is decreasing in some regions due to habitat loss and hunting.