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I saw my first porcupine in the wild two weeks ago on the Satara/Orpen Road, only about 5km from Satara. It scurried into the bush before I could get a picture, even though the camera was lying next to me.

Have anyone else seen these fascinating creatures in Kruger?

No, unfortunately not, we have only come across a lot of Porcupine quills lying in the road once and that was on the H4-2 en route to L.Sabie.

I have never seen one in Kruger.

At what time of the day did you see it, cptphotographer?

very late afternoon, sun just about set, on way back to camp to make the gate in time.

I've seen two in Kruger during nightdrives. I took this picture in 2000 (??) on the Satara nightdrive:

I have only seen the remains of one on a walk in Kruger years ago. A lion had caught it we were told.

I have seen one on a night drive in Kgalagadi though.

I saw one during my first trip to Kruger in 2004 on a night drive at Letaba. When the spotlights shone on it, the porcupine 'puffed up' and spread it's quills . It then disapeared into the bush after a few seconds.

From former visits to W-Africa, I still have some "souvenirs" of porcupine, means quills. An old local gave them to me. A quill is nearly as hard as a knife. It's surprising how "strong" it is I use it to open envelopes.

We have seen some on night drives, during early morning as well.

There is one that visit the fence next to marula on a regular basis.

Very interesting animal to watch

I only once saw the "ding met die penne" thing with the pens before. But it wasn't in Kruger. It nearly created a few ventilation holes in my car's radiator. Luckily for both my car and the porcupine I could swerve around him. He was huge!

I have never been lucky enough to see ne, but found some quills at Mooiplaas once...

Heard something interesting,

One tends to find bones around these animals' hideout holes. Because of their teeth constantly growing they nibble on these bones to keep the teeth short and maintainable.

On my recent trip to Grahamstown, I saw a very disteressing sight.
One of the locals was sitting at the side of the road selling bundles of quills. I know they have become very popular, and I cannot blame the woman for wanting to feed her family.
My concern is that this little fashion item is going to push this lovely, shy creature into extintion outside of the reserve areas.
I have seen lamp shades made of quills. That cannot be the result of the occasional quill picked up at the side of the road.

Yesterday a collegue at work (he lives in Nelspruit) told me he drove home the one night on the main road to White River (that huge uphill). It was 22h00 and he saw a porcupine in the middle of the road. Real cool guy (although he rarely goes to KNP) .. put his hazards on and chased the little bugger off the road to avoid another "road kill" ..

People like these really make my day and give me faith in the human race ...

Until he gets rammed from behind one day... A similar thing happened to me and I nearly bothered the local undertaker with an application.

Luckily for me (and the porcupine) I swerved out onto the gravel and a speedster went right inbetween me and the porcupine @ one helluva speed.

Killing an animal is one thing, but getting killed whilst trying to safe one is another.