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Baby Porcupine Born At Brookfield Zoo

CHICAGO (CBS)--A tiny porcupette (baby porcupine) born July 2 is being bottle-fed at Brookfield Zoo after his mother stopped nursing him.

Zoo staff is caring for the baby prehensile-tailed porcupine, who has yet to be named.

"He is being hand-reared by animal care staff after it was clear that his mom was not allowing him to nurse," a statement from the zoo said.

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Maggie Chardell, a lead animal care specialist for the Chicago Zoological Society, is assisting in hand-rearing a baby prehensile-tailed porcupine born at Brookfield Zoo on July 2. After monitoring the baby's mom, it was evident she was not providing him proper maternal care.

It's unclear why Lucia, the 5-year-old prehensile-tailed porcupine that gave birth to the porcupette, was not providing proper maternal care.

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Mother Lucia with her newborn baby porcupine at Brookfield Zoo.

 

 

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