Brevard Zoo Welcomes ‘Loki’ the Cape Porcupine to the Meerkat Habitat
By Space Coast Daily // May 3, 2023
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard Zoo’s meerkat habitat will be looking extra sharp with the addition of a new animal resident.
Loki the Cape porcupine now calls the Brevard Zoo home.
He recently arrived from another facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
“We hope Loki will be a fun new addition to our Meerkat Manor. Porcupines are one of the species that can cohabitate well with meerkats,” said Lauren Hinson, our director of animal programs.
“In addition to some behind-the-scenes introductions, Loki will slowly be introduced to the habitat as well as his new habitat-mates. The ample area will give everyone their own space if they’d prefer and keep any possible negative interactions at a minimum. Our animal care team will be keeping an eye on everyone for now.”
Last year, Brevard Zoo shared that there would be some changes coming for the meerkat mob with the passing of the Zoo’s dominant male, Kirabo.
“We’ve said goodbye to several males in our mob as we sent them to facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums with the intention of starting a new breeding group,” said a Brevard Zoo spokesperson. “This process is still in the works as we learn more about possible new additions to our mob from the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for meerkats.”
“In the meantime, we hope you enjoy getting to know 1-year-old Loki! He dines on yams, fruits, vegetables, greens, a special food called primate browse biscuits, and the occasional boiled beef bone. He enjoys enrichment that encourages his natural instincts to forage and dig – making the meerkat habitat an ideal spot for him.”
Cape porcupines are the largest species of porcupine in the world and the largest species of rodent in their natural range of Africa. While Loki’s long white quills have hardened now, they were actually soft bristles when he was born. Porcupines don’t actually shoot their quills – the quills shed upon impact and become stuck in their attacker.
You can check out Loki and the rest of the Brevard Zoo meerkat mob at their home at the front of Expedition Africa!
