A PRICKLY ENCOUNTER: MEETING THE CAPE CRESTED PORCUPINE
The quill-covered creature you may have seen around the Estate is the Cape crested porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis), which forms part of the ‘Old World’ porcupine species. In Afrikaans, they are known as an ystervark. These large rodents can grow up to 60cm in length and have a rugged, spiky appearance with black and white quills covering their bodies.
Despite their intimidating appearance, porcupines are pretty gentle creatures and essential to the Estate’s biodiversity.
Did you know?
The Cape crested porcupine can have up to 30 000 quills covering its body. The quills are just modified hairs specifically designed to protect it from predators.
Cape crested porcupines are nocturnal animals, sheltering in burrows, and on the Estate, they often use the stormwater drains during the day and forage between rock crevices for food at night. Its diet mainly consists of roots, bark, tubers and bulbs, and they also have a taste for salt and calcium, which they get from gnawing on bones.
The Cape crested porcupines are surprisingly good swimmers and can stay underwater for up to five minutes.
The Cape crested porcupine uses its sharp front claws to dig burrows, offering protection from predators and creating a habitat for many species.
Attackers are given plenty of warning signs. Cape crested porcupines bristle their quills, rattle their tails, stomp their feet, hiss and snort. If the attacker persists, the porcupine will whip around and charge backwards to lodge razor-sharp quills into the attacker.
It is not true that porcupines ‘shoot’ their quills, but they can do significant damage by stabbing.