AKRON — The Akron Zoo’s elderly North American porcupine, Forest, has died, zoo officials reported Sept. 1. Forest died after a brief illness, despite efforts from his care team. Necropsy, which is an animal autopsy, results indicated acute severe intestinal disease.
Forest was born April 2, 2013, and he came to live at the Akron Zoo when he was six weeks old. At 13 years old, Forest was considered elderly, with the median life expectancy for North American porcupines being seven years, one month.
Forest was an animal ambassador, meaning he was not on habitat, but rather traveled outside of the zoo for programs at schools and libraries. He also did animal encounters at the zoo for educational programs, events and guest experiences, and he was very popular with guests, according to zoo officials…