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Baby porcupine -- known as 'porcupette' -- 1st of species born at zoo

A baby porcupine is the first of its species to be born at Brookfield Zoo. (Photo submitted by Brookfield Zoo)

BROOKFIELD, Ill. — A baby porcupine is the first of its species to be born at Brookfield Zoo.

The zoo in Chicago's western suburbs says the male baby porcupine, known as a porcupette, was born July 2. He weighed almost 1 pound, and had soft quills that hardened after a few days.

The yet-to-be-named baby's parents are Lucia and Eddie.

Zoo officials say they monitored Lucia and her baby for a while before determining she wasn't allowing him to nurse. Veterinary and animal care workers are now bottle-feeding the young porcupine, and they say he's thriving.

The new prehensile-tailed porcupine, with a small, hook-like tail, will join his parents in the Hamill Family Play Zoo at approximately 10 weeks of age.

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