They are , excuse the pun, quite hairy to be inside an enclosure withthere were four of them, and one on it's own has the potential to kill a lion through infection (they urinate on those spikes). The second one was bang on my case and flared up it's combs in aggression, until the keepers suggested I get out. So getting a shot for a press release wasn't easy!
(
Jahled Three shades of black,
Tue 4 Aug 2009, 19:25,
archived)
AbsolutelyI felt genuinely quite wiry of them
( Jahled Three shades of black,
Tue 4 Aug 2009, 19:33,
archived)
Oh, and your gazThey are African brushed-tailed Porcupines , Atherurus africanus, native to western central Africa, according to the Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals about one of the best books written on the subject, as a guide
( Jahled Three shades of black,
Tue 4 Aug 2009, 19:30,
archived)
*sits cross-legged on floor*And how come they're totally different colours Mr Jahled, sir?
(
zoldergoose,
Tue 4 Aug 2009, 19:32,
archived)
The white one, Blondie, was initially thought to be albino I thinkbut apparently white members of the species are not so uncommon; though in this instance I don't think we are completely certain, in so far as who I have spoken to
( Jahled Three shades of black,
Tue 4 Aug 2009, 19:38,
archived)