A new porcupette has arrived at the Brookfield Zoo.

In line with a statement from the Chicago Zoo, Lucia, a 9-year-old porcupine, gave birth to a baby porcupette on March 19.
After giving birth, Lucia, who shares the baby porcupine with Eddie, 8, failed to provide it “proper maternal care,” and so the zoo took over care of the porcupette.

Animal care experts at the Brookfield Zoo are already providing round-the-clock assistance to the newborn animal, who has not yet been given a gender or a name.

Regular bottle feedings of a unique formula designed to support the porcupette’s healthy development are part of this committed care.

The zoo will gradually wean the young porcupine off the formula over time. The spiky youth should be able to eat solid foods at ten weeks old, such as sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, carrots, spinach, kale, peanuts, and sunflower seeds.

“The baby is thriving from the around-the-clock care provided by zoo staff and is growing strong due to a special customized formula.”

“Once the baby grows big enough, you’ll get an up-close look at the porcupette through the Hamill Family Play Zoo’s Animal Ambassadors program!”

“The baby is thriving from the around-the-clock care provided by zoo staff and is growing strong due to a special customized formula.”

According to the zoo’s press release, newborn porcupines have “soft and bendable quills that protect the mom during the birthing process,” which stiffen in the days following birth.

Like the newborn at the Brookfield Zoo, prehensile-tailed porcupines are indigenous to the South American high-elevation rain forests.