Cape porcupine

The Cape porcupine is a walking fortress, covered in a dense coat of needle-sharp quills that can grow up to 50cm long - the longest of any porcupine species! Found across southern Africa, this nocturnal rodent is surprisingly shy, spending its days hidden in burrows, caves or rocky crevices before venturing out at night to forage.

When threatened, Cape porcupines don’t run - they stand their ground. They stamp their feet, rattle their hollow tail quills and charge backwards to drive their sharp spines into predators. Despite their tough appearance, they are gentle herbivores, using their powerful teeth to gnaw on roots, bark and tubers, helping shape the ecosystems they live in.

But even these well-defended animals face threats. Habitat destruction, hunting and human-wildlife conflict are putting pressure on wild populations. Protecting them, means protecting the landscapes they help maintain.