Photo: Stone Zoo
STONEHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Stone Zoo is rolling out the welcome mat for their newest baby, a prehensile tailed porcupette (baby porcupine) born on June 25th. The baby, believed to be male, is the third offspring for mom Prickles, age 9, and dad Shadow, age 10.
“Prickles and her new baby are doing great,” says Pete Costello, the Assistant Curator at Stone Zoo. “The baby is gaining weight at a healthy pace and adapting well. The staff weigh the porcupette every morning, despite the challenge of getting the little ball of quills on the scale!” The baby weighed just over one pound at its first medical appointment on Monday.
Photo: Stone Zoo
Zoo New England is part of a national program, the Prehensile-tailed Porcupine Species Survival Plan, and this birth is part of that conservation effort.
In a press release, the zoo gives a little information about the species, saying "prehensile-tailed porcupines are born with soft quills that will harden over time. They are fairly independent after birth and don’t nurse often, so guests may see the baby by themself. They are nocturnal and spend much time resting during the day. Prehensile-tailed porcupines are found in the forests of South America; their tails act like a fifth limb, helping them grasp branches as they move through trees."
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