Application for the Import of Cape Porcupine (Hystrix Africaeaustralis)

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Application for the Import of

Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)

Terms of Reference:

1. Provide information on the taxonomy of the species

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Suborder: Hystricomorpha Infraorder: Hystricognathi Family: Hystricidae Genus: Hystrix Species: africaeaustralis 1

Common name: Cape Porcupine or South African Crested Porcupine

The Cape Porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis, is an Old World porcupine that was described by Peters in 1852. It is one of eight species belonging to the genus Hystrix, and there are two named subspecies (H. a. africaeaustralis and H. a. zuluensis).1 Captive populations are not generally assigned to subspecies as the origins of the founders are usually unknown.

2. Provide information on the status of the species under CITES

CITES Listing: no status IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)

The Cape Porcupine is not listed on the CITES appendices2, and is listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List due to the species’ wide distribution (from Kenya and southern Uganda in the north, through Tanzania, Rwanda, southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, extreme southwestern Congo, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique, and then south throughout the southern African Subregion, although it is absent from much of central Botswana), presumed large overall population, occurrence in a number of protected areas, tolerance of a degree of habitat modification, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. 3

1 Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds) (2005) Mammal Species Of The World: a taxonomic and geographic reference, 3rd edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 2 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (2013) Appendices I, II and III. http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php Accessed 12 August, 2013. 3 Grubb, P. (2008) Hystrix africaeaustralis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. . Accessed 12 August, 2013. Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia PO Box 20, Mosman NSW 2088 Australia p: 61-2-9978 4797 f: 61-2-9978 4761 www.zooaquarium.org.au

3. Provide information about the ecology of the species.

Adult Cape Porcupines reach a total length of between 630 and 805mm (including a tail of between 105 and 130mm). They weigh between 10 and 24kg, and do not exhibit any sexual dimorphism. Life span is approximately 10 years in the wild, and up to 20 years in captivity.4

The species is found in the southern half of Africa (refer to 2, above), from sea level to 2000m ASL. Cape Porcupines are nocturnal and semi-fossorial, occupying extensive burrow systems during the day. They have broad ecological tolerances, and can live in environments characterised by large daily and seasonal temperature changes. They can therefore occupy a range of habitat types, from tropical forest to desert.4

Cape Porcupines are largely herbivorous; they dig up roots, tubers and bulbs, and eat fallen fruit / other fruit on the ground, leaves, stems and bark.5 They also engage in osteophagy and occasionally consume carrion.6

Home range size varies with food availability and differs between Cape Porcupines that forage primarily on natural foods and those that forage on crops, with porcupines that forage on natural foods having smaller home ranges than those that forage on crops. Natural food foragers have larger home ranges in winter (116 ha) than in summer (67 ha), and the home ranges of neighbouring animals therefore overlap more often in winter than summer. Home range size does not vary seasonally for porcupines that forage on crops (203 ha year round), however.7, 8 Cape Porcupines often follow regular routes to feeding areas within home ranges9, and they use up to six different burrows; each is occupied on an irregular basis for anywhere between one and 151 days at a time7, 8.

Cape Porcupines are monogamous and adult pairs form the basic social unit, although they may also live individually or in family groups that consist of an adult pair and their subadult and juvenile offspring.6 Home ranges of male and female members of a mated pair overlap by, on average, 75%. Although almost 90% of free- ranging Cape porcupines forage on their own at night10, members of a pair forage near each other.7, 8 It is likely that, within the home range, a pair defends an exclusive territory.7, 8

In the absence of predators (e.g. lions, leopards), age structure in Cape Porcupine populations changes between seasons and years, and population regulation is density-dependent. Juvenile survivorship is high regardless of density.10 High density populations on riverine plains in the Karoo supported 25 individuals / km2. 11 In contrast, Cape Porcupines living in a geophyte rich semi-arid region in South Africa reached a density of eight individuals / km2, which is high for a semi-arid region.12

Please note that Cape porcupines do not exhibit sexual dimorphism, so males and females look similar.

4 References cited in Barthelmess, E.L. (2006) Hystrix africaeaustralis. Mammalian Species 788:1-7. 5 de Villiers (1992) M.S. thesis & Bragg (2003) M.S. thesis cited in Barthelmess, op. cit. 6 References cited in Barthelmess, op. cit. 7 Corbet (1991) M.S. thesis cited in Barthelmess, op. cit. 8 Corbet, N.U. and van Aarde, R.J. (1996) Social organization and space use in the Cape porcupine in a southern African savanna. African Journal of Ecology 34:1–14. 9 Roberts (1951) in Barthelmess, op. cit. 10 van Aarde, R. J. (1987a) Demography of a Cape porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis, population. Journal of Zoology 213:205–212. 11 van Aarde (1998) in Barthelmess, op. cit. 12 Bragg, C.J, Donaldson, J.S. and Ryan, P.G. (2005) Density of Cape porcupines in a semi-arid environment and their impact on soil turnover and related ecosystem processes. Journal of Arid Environments 61:261-75.

4. Provide information on the reproductive biology of the species

Compared to most rodents, Cape Porcupines are slow breeders, producing only one litter of one to three young per year; almost 60% of all litters only contain a single young.13 They exhibit biparental care of young; adult males accompany offspring on foraging trips and defend them against intruders.10 During the day, juveniles sleep with their parents in the burrow.

Females are polyestrous, and both males and females are reproductively active throughout the year, although almost 80% of captive litters are born between August and March in South Africa.13 Mean gestation length is 94 days, mean duration of lactation is 101 days (females are anoestrous during this time), and, once young are weaned, females exhibit between three and seven 30 day sterile oestrous cycles.14 Conception intervals in 25 porcupines that reared young to weaning ranged from 210 to 500 days, with a mean interval of 340 days.15

Sexual maturity is reached at between eight and 18 months for males, and during their second year for females. Conception in sexually mature females is suppressed until after dispersal from the natal group; average age at first conception is approximately 20 months.16 Given that their life span in the wild is approximately 10 years and 60% of all litters only contain a single young, the average female could therefore be expected to produce between 12 and 14 offspring over the course of her life.

Although the Cape Porcupine is not known to hybridise, in captivity in London, 1918 a Hystrix cristata paired with a Hystrix africaeaustralis, (http://www.zoohistory.co.uk/projects/first_breedings/hybrids, accessed 10/03/14). These two species are not know to hybridise in their natural range of overlap in east Africa 17. It is unknown if the hybrid created in captivity in London was fertile.

It seems unlikely therefore that the Cape Porcupine would hybridise with any native Australian fauna.

5. Provide information on whether the species has established feral populations

As noted above, there are eight species of porcupine in the genus Hystrix.18 Commonly held in zoos around the world for a number of decades, there are currently 835 Hystrix porcupines, including 279 Cape Porcupines, held in ISIS (International Species Information System) member institutions in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America and New Zealand.19 In addition, there are likely to be many more Cape Porcupines in non-member institutions around the world (many smaller zoos and wildlife parks are not members of ISIS, and so their holdings are not available in a global database).

Despite being held in good numbers by zoos outside the geographic range of the species, there are no records of the establishment of Cape Porcupine populations in the wild outside its natural range. Foraging porcupines can

13 van Aarde, R.J. (1985a) Reproduction in captive female Cape porcupines (Hystrix africaeaustralis). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 75:577–582. 14 van Aarde, R.J. (1985b) Husbandry and immobilization of captive porcupines Hystrix africaeaustralis. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 15: 77–79. 15 van Aarde, R.J. (1995) The effect of premature weaning on reproductive output of female Cape porcupines Hystrix africaeaustralis. Journal of Zoology, London 237: 653–654. 16 van Aarde, R.J. & van Wyk, V. (1991) Reproductive inhibition in the Cape porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 92:13–19. 17 Skinner & Smithers, 1990 in Barthelmess, E.L. (2006) Hystrix africaeaustralis. Mammalian Species 788:1-7 18 Wilson & Reeder, op. cit. 19 ZIMS (Zoological Information Management System) records, accessed August 14, 2013.

damage crops; farmers consider it to be a pest of crops such as tubers (e.g. potatoes), melons, pumpkins and corn in its native range20.

6. Environmental risk assessments of the species

The Cape Porcupine is not included in the Vertebrate Pests Committee’s 2007 “List Of Exotic Vertebrate Animals In Australia”. The two species of Hystrix that are included in the list (the North African Crested Porcupine, H. cristata, and the Indian Crested Porcupine, H. indica) are both assigned a threat rating of “Extreme” although there is no publicly available risk assessment showing how this threat category was allocated. Both species previously had a VPC rating of “2” (limited to statutory zoos or endorsed special collections). A number of other species rated as “Extreme” by the VPC are currently approved for import into Australia (e.g. Capybara). 21 No environmental risks assessments have been completed for Cape Porcupine, although a number of other rodents that belong to the suborder Hystricognatha are approved and eligible for import.22 These include:

Taxon Common Name Conditions Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Capybara Eligible non-commercial purpose only, excluding household pets. Dolichotis patagonum Patagonian Mara Eligible non-commercial purpose only, excluding household pets. Dasyprocta leporina Brazilian Agouti Eligible non-commercial purpose only, excluding household pets.

The Cape Porcupine was included in Biosecurity Australia Advice 2008/19, which permitted the import of this species, Brazilian Agouti, Capybara and Patagonian Mara by Australian Zoos subject to the Quarantine Act 1908 and the application of sanitary measures as specified in the “Quarantine conditions for the importation of certain species from New Zealand, Canada, the USA and Member States of the European Union, June 2008”.23 Cape Porcupine and Brazilian Agouti were not, however, included in the Zoo Rodent Import Policy by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) because they were not yet included on the Live Import List of the Department of the Environment and consequently could not be issued with an import permit. The Zoo Rodent Import Policy therefore currently covers only two species of hystricomorph rodents (Capybara and Patagonian Mara), but states that importation of other species may be considered on a case by case basis.24 The quarantine requirements that apply to Capybara and Patagonian Mara would also cover Cape Porcupines if these were to be imported.

7. Assess the likelihood that the species could establish a breeding population in Australia

The likelihood of Cape Porcupines establishing a breeding population in Australia outside effective human control is low. Hystrix species porcupines have previously been held by zoos in Australia (including Melbourne Zoo, Perth Zoo and Taronga Zoo), and four zoos in New Zealand currently hold Cape Porcupines (Auckland Zoo, Natureland Zoo, Orana Wildlife Park and Wellington Zoo), and no feral populations have established in either country. Cape porcupines are held in secure enclosures with foundations / floors that are completely covered with concrete or an appropriately-sized mesh that the animals cannot dig through and a smooth (unclimbable) barrier of at least

20 van Aarde (1987a), op. cit. 21 Vertebrate Pest Committee (2007) List of Exotic Vertebrate Animals in Australia. http://www.feral.org.au/wp- content/uploads/2010/03/VPCListJuly2007.pdf Accessed 21 August, 2013. 22 Department of the Environment Live Import List http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/d8bf16ca-362b- 4e6d-9144-4b71770bd6b6/files/live-import-list_1.pdf; accessed 30 December, 2013. 23 Biosecurity Australia (2008) Advice 2008/19: Biosecurity Policy Determination – Importation of Zoo Rodents. http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/722406/2008_19.pdf Accessed 21 August, 2013. 24 Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Import case details – public listing: Zoo Rodents – Live. http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_casecontent.asp?intNodeId=8870806&intCommodityId=10800&Types=none&W hichQuery=Go+to+full+text&intSearch=1&LogSessionID=0 Accessed 21 August, 2013.

1.0m in height all the way around the perimeter, and enclosure doorframes, backstops and other attachments are securely fastened to the walls and checked regularly for any signs of damage. These measures greatly reduce the chance of animals escaping. As Cape Porcupine are extremely difficult to handle due to their spines and are large- bodied (and therefore difficult to remove from Zoo grounds without raising suspicion), the likelihood of theft is also very low.

The captive population would be managed through the Zoo and Aquarium Associations (ZAA) Australasian Species Management Program (there is already a regional management program for this species), which means that both breeding and the dispersal of offspring would be managed within the ZAA membership.

Cape Porcupines are large animals (i.e. quite visible) and occupy home ranges with obvious burrows (up to six per individual, with any particular burrow being occupied for between one and 151 days at a time), hence they can be located easily if individuals should escape, and drop-door style live traps baited with apples, corn or sweet potatoes can be placed outside burrow entrances.25 They are not rapid breeders as is common in rodents. Instead, they breed only once a year and produce only one to three offspring per litter (60% of litters only contain a single offspring).26 This means that numbers do not increase quickly, particularly in a small population (as would be the case for a population starting from a small number of escaped animals which has to include either a pair or a pregnant female), hence capture / control of any animals that escape prior to the establishment of large populations is highly achievable.

The Cape porcupine is herbivorous, and consumes a range of food types which include roots, tubers, bulbs, low fruit / fallen fruit, leaves, stems and bark, and may also consume bones or carrion. Given the range of foods the species can eat, its diet will overlap with a number of native species (e.g. wombats also eat roots, tubers, leaves and bark in addition to grasses, mosses, funghi, etc.; bettongs consume roots and tubers as well as funghi and invertebrates; some other macropods eat leaves and bark as well as grasses). Grasses form an important part of the diet for many native herbivores, but there are no reference to Old World Porcupines such as Cape Porcupines eating grasses (although it should be noted that New World Porcupines do).

The Cape porcupine lives in habitats characterised by broad daily and seasonal temperature changes. Their metabolic rates allow them to be active during both cold (0°C) and very hot (> 37°C) weather27. Cape Porcupines have relatively broad ecological tolerances and can inhabit moist tropical forests through to deserts, although they do not occupy swampy areas28. Unable to find a direct reference about them living in modified habitats, but they can certainly live in areas directly adjacent to plantations and farms29.

8. Provide a comprehensive assessment of the potential impact of the species should it become established in Australia

Cape Porcupines are large-bodied, semi-fossorial rodents that have broad ecological tolerances and are generalist feeders.30 They inhabit extensive burrow systems during the day, either digging them themselves or using those of other species (e.g. aardvarks in their native range).31 Their diet includes corms / bulbs of geophytic plants as well as roots and tubers (additionally fallen / ground fruit, leaves, stems, shoots and bark)32, and they have been found to influence landscapes in South Africa where geophytes are abundant through their digging behaviour.

25 Corbet & van Aarde, op.cit. 26 van Aarde (1985a), op. cit. 27 Haim, A., van Aarde, R.J. and Skinner, J.D. 1990. Metabolic rates, food consumption and thermoregulation in seasonal acclimatization of the Cape porcupine Hystrix africaeaustralis. Oecologia 83:197–200. 28 Barthelmess, E.L. (2006) Hystrix africaeaustralis. Mammalian Species 788:1-7. 29 Barthelmess, E.L. (2006) Hystrix africaeaustralis. Mammalian Species 788:1-7. 30 van Aarde (1987a), op. cit. 31 de Graaff (1981) in Barthelmess, op. cit. 32 de Villiers (1992) M.S. thesis & Bragg (2003) M.S. thesis cited in Barthelmess, op. cit.

Holes dug by Cape Porcupines allow water to infiltrate the soil crust and provide recruitment sites for seedlings.33 Their tree-feeding behavior may also be responsible for patterns of succession in some savanna ecosystems (e.g. maintenance of the B. africana savanna in northeastern South Africa was partially attributed to Cape Porcupines scarring tree trunks).34 This means that Cape Porcupines could have measurable effects on Australian vegetation communities and ecological processes should they become established in the wild. They cannot move quickly and do not climb or jump well, but they can swim well.

In terms of adverse effects on Australian wildlife, Cape Porcupines are not predatory, but they could potentially compete for food with herbivorous native species or for burrows with other fossorial species. As examples, bettongs consume roots and tubers, and wombats consume tubers, roots and leaves and also occupy extensive burrow systems, so there is potential for competition in the highly unlikely event that Cape Porcupines were to become established in areas occupied by these species. With regards to humans and domestic animals / livestock, adverse impacts could occur if Cape Porcupines are cornered and harassed, as they rely on their quills for defense, and they are capable of injuring or even killing larger mammals.35 In some areas in the wild, numbers are limited only by the availability of food and den sites; in other areas, predators such as leopards and lions also play a role. Given the lack of potential predators in Australia, food and den site availability would likely be the limiting factors.

Foraging Cape Porcupines can cause damage to agricultural crops (e.g. melon, pumpkin, corn)36 and young trees37, so populations could potentially have adverse effects if they became established in agricultural or silvicultural areas. They have been reported to kill trees by ring-barking them38, however, a study in South Africa found that only 17% of trees were debarked at all by Cape Porcupines, and none were completely ringbarked.39 In the unlikely event that porcupines did escape from a Zoo and establish a home range in the wild, any damage that they caused to crops or trees would be noticeable; given that they are large animals with obvious burrows, appropriately baited live traps could then be placed outside burrow entrances.

In terms of disease risk, Biosecurity Australia conducted a review of the risks associated with importing four rodent species belonging to Suborder Hystricognathi, including Cape Porcupines, in 2008. The review determined that all four species could be imported into Australia by Zoos, provided that certain pre- and post-import conditions were met.40 More recently, New Zealand developed a Risk Management Proposal for Zoo Rodents (including Cape Porcupine) from Australia, the European Union and the United States in 2012. Forty-five pathogens or groups of pathogens that could be introduced via imported rodents were considered to be of concern. Following an initial risk assessment, the list was reduced to eight pathogens that were considered to be potential hazards; several of those are restricted to the South American rodent species included in the proposal and / or were considered to pose a negligible risk in zoo animals from approved countries. Measures to greatly minimize / avoid the chances of importing the remaining five risks are all identified in the document, and include testing and / or treatment during the pre-export quarantine period.41

33 Bragg et al., op. cit. 34 Yeaton, R.I. (1988) Porcupines, fires and the dynamics of the tree layer of the Burkea africana savanna. Journal of Ecology 76: 1017-29. 35 Nowak, R.M. (1991) Walker’s Mammals of the World, 5th edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 1629 pp. 36 van Aarde (1987b) Reproduction in the Cape porcupine Hystrix africaeaustralis: an ecological perspective. South African Journal of Science 83:605–607. 37 Greaves & Aziz Khan (1978) in Barthelmess, op. cit. 38 Thomson (1974) in Barthelmess, op. cit. 39 de Villiers (1992) M.S. thesis in Barthelmess, op. cit. 40 Biosecurity Australia, op. cit. 41 New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (2012) Risk Management Proposal for Zoo Rodents from Australia, the European Union and the United States of America. http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/biosec/consult/rmp- zoorodic.spe.pdf Accessed 21 August, 2013.

The Cape porcupine would be held in zoos within Australia. In the past zoos have held the Indian crested porcupine with no documented escapes of this species. There is no evidence of an exotic species established feral population in Australia that is a result of a zoo escape.

9. What conditions or restrictions could be applied to reduce any potential for negative impacts of the species?

There is already a ZAA species management program for Cape Porcupines, and participation in the program can is limited to ZAA members only. ZAA members are required to adhere to the ZAA Transaction Policy which prevents the movement of managed exotic program species outside the ZAA membership. Importation and transfer of Cape Porcupines from reputable Zoos in North America and / or Europe could be limited to institutions participating in a managed program. The requirement for secure containment both within species-appropriate enclosures and within the zoological property as a whole will be key to preventing the establishment of a feral population. Appropriate requirements for Cape Porcupine enclosures include foundations / floors that are completely covered with concrete or an appropriately-sized mesh that the animals cannot dig through, and a smooth (unclimbable) barrier of at least 1.0m in height all the way around the perimeter (as per current requirements in New Zealand). Additionally, all enclosure doorframes, backstops and other attachments must be securely fastened to the walls and checked regularly for any signs of damage.

Measures to prevent breeding such as limiting importation to a single sex or to de-sexed individuals could also be considered, although these would necessitate more frequent imports into the region from captive institutions overseas to maintain the species in Australian zoos.

As stated elsewhere in the proposal, Cape Porcupines are large animals (i.e. quite visible) and occupy home ranges with obvious burrows, hence they can be located easily if individuals should escape, and drop-door style live traps baited with apples, corn or sweet potatoes can be placed outside burrow entrances to trap and remove animals.42 10. Summary of proposed activity

Cape Porcupines will be featured in educational displays within Australian Zoo and Aquarium Association member institutions, and will serve as ambassadors for the often-overlooked smaller African fauna species.

Porcupines are relatively undemanding to look after in captivity and acclimatise quickly to the zoo environment. They become conditioned to people and are of a large enough size to make a memorable experience for zoo visitors, as well as being quite engaging. They can also be used as education / outreach animals, particularly if they have been hand-reared.

11. Guidelines on how species should be kept

Cape Porcupines can be held in indoor or outdoor enclosures. The minimum recommended enclosure size for a single individual is 1.83 x 2.44 x 1.83m, and floor space needs to be increased by at least 25% for each additional animal. Outdoor enclosures must have solid, smooth (i.e. non-climbable) perimeter walls at least 1.0m high, and all enclosures must have foundations / floors that are completely covered with concrete or an appropriately-sized mesh that porcupines cannot dig through (i.e. mesh will be joined to the perimeter wall to prevent the porcupines from pulling it up and digging out underneath the perimeter wall).43 Enclosure integrity must be checked on a daily basis.

42 Corbet & van Aarde, 1996, op. cit. 43 Bartos, C. (2004) Husbandry Standards for Keeping Porcupines in Captivity. Baltimore Zoo, Baltimore.

Enclosures should be furnished with piles of branches, deadfall and hollow logs. Cape Porcupines are nocturnal; in order to increase their visibility during the day, hollow logs can be placed so that the sleeping animals can be observed. Live plants may be used, although porcupines will likely gnaw on them unless wrapped with wire mesh. Porcupines will tend to follow the perimeter of their enclosure, or stay near logs, brush or other items that offer security. Cage furniture can therefore be placed in locations to provide the best view to the public while at the same time allowing the animals to engage in natural behaviours.44

Cape Porcupines can adapt to a wide range of temperatures, provided that they have been properly acclimated. At room temperatures below approximately 13°C, they need access to shelter that allows them to remain dry, warm and free of drafts, while at temperatures above approximately 27°C, shade should be available.38

Cape Porcupines are primarily herbivorous animals. The diet should consist of: rodent, primate or leaf-eater pellets, fruit, vegetables and browse. Sections of wood should be offered to help the porcupines wear down their teeth, and bones may be offered occasionally. Food bowls and water dishes / containers must be impervious to chewing.38

Cape Porcupines are best housed in pairs, with or without their previous offspring, and compatible pairs can be housed together continuously. Females do not need to be removed for parturition, as the males play an active role in raising and protecting the offspring. Young porcupines are typically separated off at one year of age in order to prevent inbreeding, but they can remain with their parents if necessary. For exhibit purposes, related single sex groups can be maintained indefinitely, but unrelated animals of the same gender may fight when they reach sexual maturity (although stable single-sex groups of unrelated Old World porcupines can be formed).38

All individuals will have a microchip implanted for identification purposes.

Transportation of all Cape Porcupines will comply with the specifications and standards as outlined within the IATA guidelines and the Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Policy and Procedures.

If breeding is permitted in Australian zoos, surplus specimen numbers will be regulated by the implementation of a controlled regional breeding program established by the Zoo and Aquarium Association and facilitated by the Cape Porcupine Species Coordinator. Consequently, individuals will only be bred to sustain the regional requirements for the captive population and the disposal of surplus individuals will subsequently not be required.

Zoo and Aquarium Association member zoos are required to follow the Association’s Code of Ethics and Code of Practice, which include emergency animal escape procedures. The Association’s Code of Ethics requires the demonstration of professional standards of animal husbandry and animal welfare. Animal Husbandry and veterinary staff responsible for the husbandry and care of Hystrix porcupines in Australasia have consistently demonstrated an ability to competently care for this species. The Association’s Code of Practice requires institutions to recognise that the welfare of the animals in their care and their physical, psychological and physiological needs to comply with the Association’s Animal Management Guidelines. Effective disease management will be achieved by housing Cape Porcupines destined for import to Australia in compliance with the quarantine and veterinary procedures required by Australian Quarantine Inspection Services (AQIS) during pre-export isolation and post arrival quarantine.

44 Bartos, op. cit.

12. State/Territory controls

Under the Australian Government Department of Environment, this species should be listed as a species on Part 2 of the Live Import List, limiting imports to eligible non-commercial purposes only, excluding household pets.

In the ACT, the Cape Porcupine is not listed in the Exempt Animals list45, and a license would therefore be required to hold the species.46

In New South Wales, the Cape Porcupine is not listed in Schedule 1 of the Non-Indigenous Animals Regulation 2006, which means that it is automatically assigned to Category 1b. The species would need to be assessed and placed into an appropriate category to allow it to be imported into NSW.47

In the Northern Territory, non-native vertebrates are classed as prohibited entrants by the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2009, and a permit is required to import / hold the species.48

In Queensland, Cape Porcupines are not currently listed in Schedule 3, Part 4 of the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Regulation 2003 (Schedule 3, Part 4 allows the species to be kept in zoos with a permit to be issued by the relevant state authority for possession of the species), although both African (H. cristata) and Indian Crested (H. indica) Porcupines are.49

In South Australia, the Cape Porcupine is a Category 1 species under Schedule 1 of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004, and a permit would need to be issued by the relevant state authority in order to import and hold the species.50

In Tasmania, Cape Porcupines are not listed on Schedules 5 or 6 (Prohibited and Restricted Wildlife, respectively) of the Wildlife Regulations 1999. A permit would need to be obtained to import them into and hold them in Tasmania.51

In Victoria, all members of Family Hystricidae except Indian Crested Porcupines are listed in Schedule 1 of the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, which means that they are prohibited. Indian Crested Porcupines (H.

45 Australian Capital Territory Government Territory and Municipal Services Exempt Animals Schedule 2. http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks- recreation/plants_and_animals/animal_licensing/do_i_need_a_licence/exempt_animals Accessed 31 December, 2013. 46 Australian Capital Territory Nature Conservation Act 1980. http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1980- 20/current/pdf/1980-20.pdf Accessed 31 December, 2013. 47 New South Wales Government. Non-Indigenous Animals Regulation 2006. http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/fullhtml/inforce/subordleg+519+2006+cd+0+Y Accessed 01 November, 2013. 48 Northern Territory Government Department of the Chief Minister. Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2009. http://notes.nt.gov.au/dcm/legislat/legislat.nsf/linkreference/TERRITORY%20PARKS%20AND%20WILDLIFE%20CONSERVA TION%20ACT Accessed 04 November, 2013. 49 Queensland Government Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel. Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Regulation 2003. https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/L/LandPrPSRMR03.pdf Accessed 01 November, 2013. 50 Government of South Australia Attorney-General’s Department. Natural Resources Management Act 2004. http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/data/assets/pdf_file/0003/137460/Declaration_of_Animals_and_Plants_- _September_2013.pdf and http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/Natural%20Resources%20Management%20Act%202004.aspx Accessed 04 November, 2013. 51 Tasmanian Government Department of Premier and Cabinet. Wildlife Regulations 1999. http://www.thelaw.tas.gov.au/tocview/index.w3p;cond=;doc_id=%2B168%2B1999%2BJS5%40EN%2B20081022000000;h iston=;prompt=;rec=;term= Accessed 04 November, 2013.

indica) are included on Schedule 2 (controlled pest animals), which allows the species to be kept in zoos with a permit to be issued by the relevant state authority for possession of the species.52

In Western Australia the Cape Porcupine is not included in the WAOL (Western Australian Organism List) Prohibited or Declared Pest lists, nor is it included on the Permitted list.53 This means that permission needs to be sought from DAFWA (Department of Agriculture and Food WA) to bring this species into WA.

Biosecurity Australia has an existing comprehensive set of quarantine requirements for importation of live hystricomorph rodents, which would cover Cape Porcupines should they be imported.54

Provisions of the Quarantine Act 1908 and the Quarantine Proclamation Act 1988 as amended should also be considered when planning imports of this species.

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Biosecurity Australia (2008) Advice 2008/19: Biosecurity Policy Determination – Importation of Zoo Rodents. http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/722406/2008_19.pdf Accessed 21 August, 2013.

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Tasmanian Government Department of Premier and Cabinet. Wildlife Regulations 1999. http://www.thelaw.tas.gov.au/tocview/index.w3p;cond=;doc_id=%2B168%2B1999%2BJS5%40EN%2B20081 022000000;histon=;prompt=;rec=;term= Accessed 04 November, 2013. van Aarde, R.J. (1985a) Reproduction in captive female Cape porcupines (Hystrix africaeaustralis). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 75:577–582. van Aarde, R.J. (1985b) Husbandry and immobilization of captive porcupines Hystrix africaeaustralis. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 15: 77–79.

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