The Virginia Zoo is welcoming a new addition — and this new baby is a little prickly!
A prehensile-tail porcupine was born Friday morning to first-time mother Cayenne and father Pacha, according to a news release from the zoo.
The family is on exhibit in the zoo’s nocturnal house.
Native to South America, prehensile-tail porcupines have a gestation period of approximately 200 days. Young are born covered in a rust colored fur, quills that grow in later, and are precocial, meaning they are born with their eyes open and ready to climb!
The little porcupette is under close observation of animal care and veterinary staff who will continue to monitor mom and baby in the coming weeks.
