Kid Territory: Critters: A Precious Porcupine
Pocahontas cuts the ribbon to celebrate the opening of a school annex at the Wild Animal Park.
Wild Animal Park name: Pocahontas,
also known as "Pokie"
Species: South
African crested porcupine
Location: Wild Animal Park's Wildlife Education Compound
Her story
You may have heard that porcupines shoot their quills, but that's not so. Meeting our porcupine, Pocahontas, can help give you a better understanding of how these animals survive in the wild and protect themselves using their quills without shooting them!
"Pokie" came to the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park when she was only a few months old. She is now one of our animal ambassadors that delight our guests in many of our education programs, special events, and television appearances.
About those quills...
South African crested porcupines are "Old World" porcupines. They have some distinct differences from the North American porcupine, especially in their appearance. First, they have a crest of long hairs that stand up on the top of their head when they are alerted—quite the hairdo! Now about those quills! South African crested porcupine quills can be as long as 12 inches (30 centimeters) and are very sharp, yet are just a type of hair. When a porcupine becomes alarmed, these quills will fan out on the porcupine's back and rattle. If necessary, the porcupine will quickly back into the intruder, quills first. The quills may dislodge from the porcupine, leaving them behind in the intruder's skin. So you see, they don't really shoot their quills, just like you don't shoot hair off your head!
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South African crested porcupines (left) have very long and visible quills. North American porcupines (right) have small quills hidden underneath long guard hairs. |
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Pocahontas seems to enjoy working with her trainers and handlers. She likes browse to chew on and loves eating corn! She was only about 7 pounds (3 kilograms) when she first came to the Park, and now weighs about 30 pounds (14 kilograms). As sweet as Pokie may be, we never forget that she is still a wild animal and does have huge teeth like a beaver and the defense of those beautiful, yet sharp, quills.
Where you can see her
Pocahontas lives off exhibit in our Wildlife Education compound where she participates in many of our education programs. You may see her down at the research island in the Heart of Africa, or even at a Beastly Bedtime sleepover at the Park. To view a North American porcupine, visit the Park's newest exhibit area: Condor Ridge.
More
Animal Bytes: Porcupine
Education Programs:
Assemblies, Sleepovers
Wild Animal Park:
Heart of Africa, Condor
Ridge
Science Project: The Great Porcupine
Race
