Porcupine meet and greet
what to expect
Poke, poke... hey you!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to shake hands with a porcupine? No? We bet you have now!
In this incredible up-close interactive experience, not only will you have the chance to shake hands with our infamous porcupine, Quilliam, but you will also get to touch his quills, watch him do some tricks, and get photos taken with him.
During your time with Quilliam, you will recognize how fun porcupine's personalities are. Quilliam is very curious and he loves meeting new people- like you!
Tanganyika trainers will be there throughout the entire experience letting you know when and how to interact and filling you with important porcupine facts.
Tips to know
- 10 person maximum
- Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult
- Please plan on staying seated during the experience
- Trainers will let you know how and when to interact
- The experience lasts approximately 30 minutes
- Bring a camera! Photos are allowed.
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5/5
if you haven't done any of the "meet & greets" at Tanganyika you are really missing out on an unforgettable experience. We enjoyed them so much we had to book a 2nd time. Lots of fun no matter what your age!
Conservation Corner: African Crested Porcupine
Human-wildlife conflict threatens porcupines’ existence .As human populations expand, humans and porcupines find themselves in increasingly close quarters. When porcupine populations close to cultivated areas surge, they can become serious agricultural pests. They are smoked out of their burrows and hunted with spears, nets, or dogs. These practices have eliminated them from densely settled areas. They are targeted for their quills. Porcupine quills have long been a favorite ornament and good-luck charm in Africa. The hollow rattle quills serve as musical instruments and were once used as containers for gold dust. In addition to being targeted for their quills, they are illegally hunted for their meat. Just like here in the U.S. rodents are an important part of the ecosystem. In Africa and here conservation groups work to educate locals about the importance of all animals in the ecosystem, ways to prevent and reduce damage to crops from rodents, and to set up wildlife preserves to offer undisturbed places for these animals to inhabit. 
