Old World and New World porcupines are nocturnal rodents increasingly kept in zoos. Their welfare needs centre on appropriate nocturnal management, gnawing enrichment, and social consideration.
Porcupine welfare in zoo settings requires accommodation of their primarily nocturnal lifestyle, which creates management challenges for daytime visitor viewing. Facilities that force porcupines into daytime activity through light manipulation or disturbance compromise circadian rhythms and increase chronic stress. Natural or dim lighting during daytime with brighter nocturnal-simulation lighting during evening viewing hours represents the welfare-preferred management approach. Gnawing enrichment — hardwood logs, root vegetables, mineral blocks — addresses the strong dental wear behaviour essential for rodent health. Social management differs by species: African crested porcupines form stable monogamous pairs that should not be disrupted, while North American porcupines are more solitary. Substrate that allows digging enrichment addresses additional behavioural drives.