Porcupine born at Lincoln Children’s Zoo
LINCOLN, Neb. (August 27, 2025) – Lincoln Children’s Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a prehensile-tailed porcupine, the first-ever born at the Zoo. The baby porcupine, referred to as a porcupette, was born on August 1, 2025, to mom, Nora, and dad, Renzo.
Both mom and baby are healthy and thriving. The porcupette weighed 428 grams at two days old and has increased its weight to 1080 grams as of August 26th. The Zoo has sent in a quill for DNA testing to determine its sex and will announce those results when they arrive.
Baby porcupines are born with short quills that are covered by reddish-orange hair. As they grow, they gradually lose that hair, revealing their quills. At less than one month old, this porcupette has many visible quills and the team expects it to lose the remaining rust-colored hair within the next couple of weeks.
This baby porcupine, along with the Zoo’s two other prehensile-tailed porcupines, are ambassador animals and live behind the scenes. They engage with guests through programs at the Wild Safari Theater, education programs and special events.
The birth of this porcupine is significant for the Zoo’s ambassador animal program. Ambassador animals play a vital role in connecting guests to wildlife and inspiring conservation action.
“Animal ambassador programs bring people closer to animals, creating memorable experiences that spark a lifelong passion for conservation. Births like this ensure the continuation of ambassador programs not only at Lincoln Children’s Zoo, but AZA accredited zoos around the country, and we’re proud to play a role in their future,” said Evan Killeen, Lincoln Children’s Zoo CEO.
Eventually this porcupette will move to another Zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) as part of the Species Survival Plan, ensuring the animal will make an impact wherever it goes. Whether here or at another facility, as this young porcupette grows, it will help guests learn more about its species and the importance of protecting wildlife and wild places.
Lincoln Children’s Zoo is part of the AZA’s Species Survival Plan Program. The program develops a Breeding and Transfer Plan which identifies population goals and recommendations to manage a genetically diverse, demographically varied, and biologically sound population. The plan’s coordinators approved breeding recommendations for the Zoo’s genetically valuable prehensile-tailed porcupines Renzo and Nora.
Stay up to date on this prehensile-tailed porcupine through the Zoo’s Facebook and Instagram, or subscribe to the Zoo’s weekly e-newsletter here.
