Cape Porcupine
The Cape Porcupine is the largest of the african rodents and may weigh 20+ pounds. The notion that, when threatened, they can throw their quills is false. However, they may rush at the foe and, on contact, imbed & release their very sharp quills. I have seen young lions with quills stuck in their face, because they had foolishly attacked a porcupine. For the lion, such an event is more serious than it sounds, because the puncture could cause death from infection. A quill is barbed at the end, making removal difficult and painful. [Deception Valley, Botswana].
Cape Porcupine
We were eating ourdoors when we saw a Porcupine, attracted by the smell of food, come into camp.The owner wanted to see if the animal would accept food from him. Note that while eating from his hand, the porcie keeps its spines and quills (shorter spines) directed towards Braam. The notion that porcupines can hurl their spines is false; however, if contact occurs, they can drive the spines into the adversary's tissue. This creature is the largest rodent in Africa--and the second largest in the world (The capabara, in Central America is the largest}. [Deception Valley, Botswana].