THE Curraghs Wildlife Park has welcomed its latest attractions, male and female African crested porcupines, which have been named Quills and Kate.
The park’s general manager, Kathleen Graham, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome two porcupines to the park in time for the school half term holidays.’
She said the couple were introduced to each other for the first time on Friday and got on so well, the keepers named them Quills and Kate (in honour of the royal couple).
She added: ‘Porcupines are stunning with their black and white quills, making a great impression and quite a racket when they raise their quills and rattle them.’
The park was lucky to get ‘Kate’ as ‘Quills’ had been housed on his own, inside and off show since last October.
Bosses at the Wildlife Park asked the BIAZA (the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria) and all UK zoos to identify a female to keep Quills company and Chester Zoo said that it had a few.
There are 29 species of porcupine and the African crested porcupine also lives wild in Italy.
It is believed that it was possibly introduced there by the Romans.
Porcupines are rodents and herbivores but are known to collect bones to sharpen their teeth and possibly to obtain calcium to help in the production of their quills.
When under threat the quills are used in defence as they run backwards towards their threat or potential predator. Even lions have been known to end up with a face full of quills.
The Curraghs Wildlife Park is currently open during weekends and school holidays from 10am to 4pm with a later closing of 6pm from the Easter holidays onwards.