Indian Crested Porcupine
Habitat and Distribution: Found in rocky hills, deserts, and forests in India, Southeast Asia, Sumatra, Java, and neighboring islands.Size: 2–3 feet in length; 35–60 pounds
Wild Diet: Variety of fruits, nuts, bulbs, roots, and bark
Predators: Humans, tigers, and other wild cats
Lifespan: 10–12 years in the wild; up to 20 years in zoos
Reproduction: Maturity is reached at 8–18 months of age. 1–4 young porcupines are born after a 112-day gestation period, with eyes already open. Babies have soft quills at birth, which harden after a few hours. It is common for the crested porcupine to have two litters a year. Porcupines are very protective of their young, and will lick them as a form of social bonding.
Behavior: They are mostly active at night, dawn and dusk. They will spend the day in an existing hole or a burrow that they have dug. They rarely climb, and would rather run away if threatened by a predator. If the porcupine is not able to escape, it will raise its quills to appear bigger, then turn its back on the predator, stamp its feet, and rattle its hollow quills. If the predator still pursues, the porcupine can thrust backward and spear the predator with the needle sharp quills near its tail. The quills will come loose and stick into any skin, eye, or mouth.
Conservation
Status: Stable
Currently, Indian crested porcupine numbers are stable, however, like many wild species, human encroachment on their habitat may eventually mean fewer porcupines.
Currently, Indian crested porcupine numbers are stable, however, like many wild species, human encroachment on their habitat may eventually mean fewer porcupines.
Interesting Facts
The crested porcupine has long, mostly hollow, black and white quills along its neck and back. These quills can be raised up to make them look bigger and hopefully scare off any predators. Their quills can be over a foot long. They also have a crest of long stiff hair on their head that they can raise up. The belly is covered with short, stiff black hair.