In Loving Memory of Prickles

We spent a lot of time with Prickles as he grew into an inquisitive soul, but fate had a surprise in store for Prickles (and for us), and her name was Penny. A frantic phone call led us to her on a Karoo farm. She suffered extensive injuries and was taken back to our centre for around-the-clock care. Penny’s recovery was lengthy and tedious, but with her healing came calmness and trust. And eventually the time came to introduce her to Prickles. What began as a few cautious sniffs turned into something extraordinary.

The two became inseparable, and soon after, we welcomed two tiny porcupettes into their wonderfully quirky world. Contentedly living with his prickle (yes, that’s the wonderfully apt term for a group of porcupines), Prickles clearly preferred the company of his own kind and gradually sought less affection from his human carers. He took his role as protector of his little prickle very seriously—and did a marvellous job of it, too.

But Prickles wasn’t just part of a ‘fairytale love story’ - he was also an unexpected teacher. With each little shuffle and sporadic quill-fanning, he reminded visitors that porcupines are more than their prickly reputation. They’re ecosystem engineers—spreading seeds, tilling soil, and quietly keeping nature in check while the rest of the world sleeps. His bond with Penny, and their beautiful little family, became a story we loved to share. A story of healing, trust, second chances—and the idea that even the prickliest among us can have the softest hearts.

After more than a decade with his wonderful prickle family, Prickles sadly passed away last month, at the remarkable age of 15. Now, without him, there’s a noticeable stillness in his space—but also a warmth. A legacy. A thousand small memories that still rustle softly in the background.

To us, Prickles wasn’t just an animal in our care—he was a friend. A constant. A character. Whether it was the nudge of his nose against a hand, or the way he perked up at the sound of your voice—he had a way of making you feel like the most important human in the world… especially if you were carrying his food bowl.

Some animals thunder into our lives. Others tiptoe in quietly and change everything. Prickles was the latter.
He gave us moments to pause. To laugh. To slow down and notice the odd little miracles tucked into the quiet corners of life. He reminded us that love doesn’t always arrive wrapped in a bow—sometimes it comes in the form of a bristly bum and a toothy grin.

And despite the hardship he endured early in life, he chose trust. He chose connection. And he chose us.

Rest gently, dear Prickles.
You arrived timid… but left so loved.

PHOTO: A throwback to a young Prickles sharing a special moment with staff member, Tammy Moult, on one of her daily visits to his enclosure.