Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 135, March 2016, pp. 1-20. | Page 8

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The Indian Crested Porcupine’s extensive burrowing is damaging in gardens and
other landscaped areas, because of this and their fondness for human-grown
crops, they are hunted as a pest species. Additionally, porcupines are hunted in
many countries for their meat, which is considered a delicacy, and for their
quills, which many cultures use for decoration and religious symbols.
Often infested with fleas and ticks, porcupines sometimes carry serious bacterial
infections and run-ins with porcupines can cause serious illness and injuries to
domestic animals and humans Yerevan Zoo).
Conservationists have also documented that many tigers and leopards have
become man-eaters after having fought and been injured by porcupines, which
indicates their ferocity and their lack of predators. One such example was the
Leopard of Gummalapur, which when examined, was shown to have two
porcupine quills lodged in its right forefoot (Yerevan Zoo).

Short facts of the Indian Crested Porcupine:
Range and Habitat
The Indian Porcupine is recorded in Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean
through southwest and central Asia (including Afghanistan and Turkmenistan)
to Pakistan, India, Nepal, China and Sri Lanka. In the Himalayan Mountains they
reach altitudes of up to 2400 meters (Gurung and Singh 1996).
Countries:
Native: Afghanistan; Armenia; Azerbaijan; China; Georgia; India; Iran; Iraq;
Jordan; Kazakhstan; Nepal; Pakistan; Palestine; Saudi Arabia; Sri Lanka; Turkey;
Turkmenistan; Yemen.
Presence uncertain: Kyrgyzstan; Tajikistan; Uzbekistan.
Population:
Indian porcupines are fairly common in its native habitats. They are populous
enough to be considered a pest.
Population Trend:
Stable.
Habitat and Ecology:
This species has a broad habitat tolerance, occupying rocky hillsides, tropical and
temperate shrubland, grasslands, forests, arable land, plantations, and gardens.
Systems:
Terrestrial.
Major Threats:
Porcupines are considered agricultural pests by locals who trap and use them for
food.
Conservation Actions:
The species is found in protected areas. No specific measures are in place or
needed (Yerevan Zoo).

Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 135