Baby porcupine arrives at Wiltshire's Longleat
The little porcupette is the first offspring for their adult pair
There's a new arrival at Wiltshire's Longleat - a baby porcupine, which doesn't even have its spikes yet!
The currently fluffy little North American tree porcupette is the first offspring for the safari park's adults, Fennel and Mango.
Porcupettes are born with soft quills to allow the mother to give birth, and then harden later.
They begin eating vegetables at around two weeks old and will be fully weaned by three months old.
Samantha Peeke, Longleat Animal Adventure keeper said: “We’re really excited for this arrival, as it’s something we as keepers have been waiting a long time for. Fennel and Mango really hit it off when they were introduced last year, and it’s amazing to already have a little porcupette with us.
“Porcupettes are born with their eyes open and able to move around by themselves, which the little one took in its stride when it ventured out of the nest box and into the outdoors at less than a day old.
“The little one was spotted attempting to climb branches and chew on trees, although they were a little wobbly at first and definitely need more practice.
“It’s common for the mum to leave their young at the bottom of the tree whilst they go and forage, and Fennel has been doing incredibly well as a first-time mum and has been protective of her baby as we would expect.
“Mango hasn’t shown too much interest in the porcupette, he’s much more interested in his dinner!”
The porcupette hasn’t been sexed or named yet and is currently dependent on mum to be fed.
It is thought to be one of only three North American tree porcupines born in the UK in the last 12 months.