Two Spiky Brothers Move Into Madison's Zoo

by Gerard Sanchez, age 10

Two new porcupines are living in Madison, Wisconsin. Brothers Hami and Nugget have officially moved into the Henry Vilas Zoo!

They are a special type of porcupine called a cape porcupine. This species of porcupine can grow striped and hollow quills that are up to 12 inches long! They tend to live in the rocky areas of central and southern Africa and are the largest rodent in Africa! Underneath their quills, cape porcupines are not all that big.

Cape porcupines' long quills serve as a defensive mechanism and help these creatures look larger and scarier than they are. These porcupines shake their quills when they feel threatened and make a loud, hissing sound. The cape porcupine’s quills are sharp and made of keratin, which is the same protein that composes human hair and nails.

Cape porcupines eat tree bark, roots, and berries. This rodent can weigh between 20 to 40 pounds, and they are 12.6 to 16.5 inches long. Members of the community can visit Hami and Nugget at the Henry Villa Zoo. Their new home is the Green Barn, which is located close to the goat yard. The zoo is free of charge and is open daily from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.

[Sources: WMTV 15 News; The Wisconsin State Journal; Henry Vilas Zoo]