In the spring and summer, porcupines shift to eating berries, seeds, grasses, leaves, roots and stems. During warm months, porcupines eat leaves, buds, nuts, fruit, twigs, and green plants. When the going gets tough, the prickly get going—especially in the case of a plucky porcupine that recently fended off 17 lions in South Africa's Londolozi Game Reserve. Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) are a nuisance to homeowners. It's a tea-and-coffee culture, so breakfast is often a cup of something hot (with lots of sugar added) served alongside something bready. Usually, female crested porcupines have one litter every year. The team found evidence of about 50 lions that had been injured or killed by porcupines since the 17th century. North American porcupines are some of the biggest rodents that come from North America, beaten out in size solely by beavers, according to the Woodland Park Zoo. Their diet changes seasonally. Each pair may inhabit up to six burrows and jointly defend its shared territory. #5. Share Link. Crowned eagles generally live in South Africa, Madagascar, and Sub-Sahara Africa. They are herbivorous, eating leaves, shoots, buds, fruits and nuts. Backyard Grill and Lounge in Cape Town is a wgreat place to try it, as is Flames in the Four Seasons Hotel, Johannesburg. ^ Because porcupines primarily target wood, most people are unaware how much they like succulent plants. Our research was drawn from different parts of the continent, including Kenya, Namibia and South Africa. And while a 30-lb. By exploring these cases, we were able to identify why lions sometimes hunt porcupines. PORCUPINES HAVE A POINT TO MAKE. The largest porcupine is the African Porcupine which can weigh over 20 kilograms (44 pounds). They eat the inner bark of many types of trees and bushes. Do Eat a Braai. Formal commercial institutions such as banks, post offices and small businesses are closed for business. Lion cubs eager for a meal find themselves in a prickly situation. They will also munch on foliage, twigs, harder bark buds, fruits, nuts, berries, flowers, and even deer and elk antlers to get calcium. For this reason, porcupines do not have to fear being eaten by very many animals. Bobcats, cougars and fishers have learned that a porcupine has no quills on its stomach. Bobcats, cougars and fishers have learned that a porcupine has no quills on its stomach. Life expectancy. The South African Porcupine has small eyes and ears and rather short whiskers. Porcupines have rounded bodies covered with many spines or quills and can be grey, brown or white in colour. All porcupine species are similar at the first glance. The animals can weigh up to 30 pounds and be up to 2 1/2 feet long. In the winter, they primarily eat evergreen needles and the inner bark of trees, often feeding heavily on a single tree causing damage or death to the tree. South Africa Donts. Humans are most likely to hear porcupine noises if the animal feels threatened. North American porcupines have a relatively long life expectancy. Do not ever use ‘negro’ or ‘black’ which is banned in Africa, as it’s thought reflecting black slaves and their descendants who were trafficked to the United States. Lion . The smallest porcupine is the Rothschilds Porcupine from South America which weighs only 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds). Often thought of as a carnivore, genets will eat nearly anything if it's convenient. Three animals, however, has figured out how to eat porcupines. Some really big males can weigh up to 30 kg, but this is unusual. If you set foot on South African soil, don’t leave before you’ve enjoyed a traditional al fresco braai, as much for the barbecued food as for the cultural experience. During the winter, they chew through the outer tree bark to eat the tissue-like inner bark. Porcupines are covered with quills that painfully stick into almost any predator that tries to attack them. Mother porcupines do not defend their young, but have been known to care for them even after death. ... North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. These species build their habitats in woodlands and forests. Size. Porcupines live in many parts of North America, Africa, and South America. Lambing often peaks in the months of spring, however they can be born throughout the year. Other African places include Zambia, Kenya, and Uganda. South Africa is still very much a land of haves and have-nots. Our research was drawn from different parts of the continent, including Kenya, Namibia and South Africa. Porcupines have been known to strip or “girdle” tree bark from both the trunk and upper limbs with their two front teeth, which can sometimes kill the tree. Lions try to take on prickly porcupines. These birds prey on small mammals, reptiles, birds, lizards, and monkeys. They live in America, Africa, Europe and Asia. Porcupines are rodents. That means that it can become endangered in the near future. The Cape Porcupine is 630 to 810 mm in length (excluding the small tail, which is about 110 to 200mm long). People may notice several porcupine sounds when the animals are nearby. WHAT DO PORCUPINES EAT? Porcupines are cathemeral, meaning they may be active night or day. Three animals, however, has figured out how to eat porcupines. Porcupines form monogamous pairs, which mate throughout the year. what do porcupines eat? Largely a browser, the Cape grysbok feeds on succulent grasses and fruits in South Africa, and is not dependant on water. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, take a tour to Mzoli’s Place, a butchery and braai hangout in Cape Town’s Gugulethu township. Porcupines are generalists, eating a wide range of plant material. Porcupines often gnaw bones because they need their minerals and also to sharpen their powerful incisors. Then again, neither do scientists who study porcupines. The common porcupine is an herbivore. Rather, they get stuck in whatever touches the porcupine. North American porcupines also eat fruit, leaves, and springtime buds. What do Crowned Eagles Eat? X. Porcupine vs. Scientists group porcupines into two groups: Old World porcupines, which are found in Africa, Europe and Asia; and New World porcupines, which are found in North, Central, and South America. Porcupines have a reputation as tough customers because of their sharp quills. Photographing Lions With Technology. Featured Videos Related Mating Moments. Cape Grysbok Breeding After a gestation period of seven months, single lambs are born. Both males and females weigh between 10 and 24 kg. Less well known is the fact that they also use noises to warn away predators. Follow it up with a popular melktert (custard-filled pastry) and if you fancy a little snifter to finish then a sweet and creamy glass of Amarula (liqueur) will definitely do the trick. From Morocco's b'stilla to South Africa's bunny chow, don't leave Africa without sampling at least a few of these exquisite foods. Weight. Do not call African indigenous ‘African’, as in Africa, the so-called African refers only to a specific group of people, the Republic of South Africa Netherlands Hispanic whites. Living With Lions in Namibia. For its size -- about 4 1/2 pounds and 20 inches long -- a genet is a skilled and powerful hunter. They can live in deserts, grasslands or forests. The general coat coloration for North American porcupines is black or deep brown. It was left pulling the spines out its face and body. With 56% of the population living below the national poverty line and unemployment at 28%, purchasing power for many is extremely limited. Shivani Bhalla: Securing a Future for Lions. The male plays an unusually active role in raising the litter of 2–4 young. Porcupines love rose bushes, pansies, lily pads, all types of berries, corn, and several other garden favorites. For this reason, porcupines do not have to fear being eaten by very many animals. That can be a piece of toast with jam or cheese, a rusk (a thick and tooth-breakingly hard cookie), buttered bread, or even a hot dog bun. South Africa’s Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994) determines that if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday. Other porcupine species live in Africa, Europe, and Asia. Rabbits and deer are often blamed for this damage when many times it is being done by porcupines. It has been recorded from sea level to 2,550 m (8,370 ft) in Moroccan Anti-Atlas. Public transport is not affected and is usually busier than normal. Their unique features have generated great interests from some humans but a majority of us wouldn't be looking to keep porcupines as pets. How to Get Rid of Porcupines Digging Up Your Yard. by Whit Gibbons November 4, 2012. The predator received a face full of quills after pouncing on two porcupines in South Africa's Kruger National Park. Under ideal conditions, females give birth twice a year. Centuries of European rule have left their mark on the "typical" South African breakfast. Out of all porcupine species, only one (Philippine Porcupine) is listed as vulnerable. To have a truly South African experience, eat a traditonal South African barbecue, also known as a braai. Moreover, even the most affluent consumers are becoming more price-sensitive as living costs rise and the economy remains weak. In one case, when a baby had fallen to its death from a tree, the mother came down and stayed by her baby's side for hours waiting vainly for the baby to revive. Habitat. Although they appear awkward, and are husky to say the least, porcupines of North and South America are actually arboreal and forage, eat and sleep in the trees. Martial Eagle Martial Eagle Found in Africa, Asia and Europe, genets are part of the Viverid family, which includes mongooses. Where do porcupines live? Porcupines are considered exotic pets because they are wild animals and not typically kept as pets. The black dwarf porcupine that lives in Brazilian rainforests south of the Amazon River is a species I seldom talk, write, or even think about. It eats leaves, twigs and green plants like skunk cabbage and clover. In the Mediterranean, it is known from mainland Italy and the island of Sicily, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia; they are also recorded in Ghana, Libya and along the Egyptian coast. In fact, many species of snakes eat porcupines and other horned or quilled animals, according to a study published in 2003 in the Phyllomedusa Journal of Herpetology. 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