He has barely been a month old and already has some quills that let him know that he is not at all unprotected. Like a skein of spikes, Dakari has been presented at Whipsnade Zoo in the United Kingdom as the Community’s new porcupine. He is the fourth member of a family made up of parents, Kimya and Winga, and his older brother, Oti.
Dakari, which means “rejoicing” in Zimbabwe, was born in this British park on February 13 and has just been presented by those in charge of the zoo. What still remains to be known is whether Dakari is male or female, a mystery that the center’s veterinarian will resolve when appropriate.
As we see in the video, this endearing little ball of spikes walks around the burrow with great curiosity, playing with the elements it sees and biting the pieces of food it finds. And all this, without separating too much from his mother. From the zoo they assure that Dakari shows the manners of a good adventurer.
Generally, Cape porcupines (Hysteix africaeauastralis) live solitary in the wild until they find another individual to mate. From that moment on, they remain monogamous for the rest of their lives.
Like any new newborn, it has been very well received by the zoo and will undoubtedly benefit from all the care it needs. These nocturnal rodents native to central and southern Africa are the largest of all porcupine species. Unfortunately, in their natural habitat their survival is seriously threatened due to the increasing destruction of the environment and hunting.
