The Lincoln Children’s Zoo is celebrating a historic first: the birth of a prehensile-tailed porcupine, known as a “porcupette.”
Born August 1 to mom Nora and dad Renzo, the Zoo says the tiny porcupette quickly became a source of excitement for zookeepers. At just two days old, it weighed 428 grams and has already more than doubled in size. Keepers say Nora is a relaxed and attentive mother, and baby is nursing and growing well.
Porcupettes are born with short quills hidden under reddish-orange hair. As they grow, the hair falls away to reveal their quills. The zoo says a DNA test on one of the baby’s quills will determine whether it’s a male or female…