Indian Crested Porcupine

The Indian crested porcupine is mainly nocturnal and spends its day in burrows dug with its claws. At birth, the young have their eyes open and soft quills. As they grow, these quills harden and become their main form of defense. When threatened, they bristle their quills and produce clicking sounds with the hollow spines located at the base of their tail. When backing up, the spines embed themselves in the attacker’s flesh and are nearly impossible to remove.

The Indian crested porcupine is hunted throughout its range, primarily for its meat. Considered a pest, it causes significant damage to crops by feeding on cultivated plants. It can also be highly destructive to gardens and landscaping, as it digs burrows and consumes the plant resources in these areas. As a result, this species is unfortunately not protected by any conservation measures.