Niabi Zoo has announced the birth of a new animal that also marks a first for the zoo.

Few things in this world are cuter than baby animals and there's a new one in Coal Valley that's making history at Niabi Zoo.

On January 7th, Niabi Zoo welcomed it's first baby African Cape Porcupine (which is also called a 'porcupette'. Too cute.) Cape porcupines are native to the dry woodlands of South Africa, according to a Facebook post from the zoo announcing the birth.

The new baby's parents are the 11-year-old male porcupine Charles and the 3-year-old female Milele. The baby is already taking to solid food.

Zoo Director Lee Jackson said in the post:

Our Cape porcupines are part of a multi zoo cooperative breeding program. This is the first time Cape porcupines have been bred at Niabi, and we are excited to be able to make a significant contribution to the program. We look forward to continued success with this species.

The Cape porcupine captive management program involves 112 institutions with over 500 animals that are part of it.

Seriously how cute is this little prickly fam?

The zoo says that the porcupines are favorites for zoo visitors. There's no word yet on a name for the little porcupette but Niabi Zoo says that they will share more images and videos as it grows. You can keep up with the zoo on their Facebook page. They're closed for the winter now, but will open up again for the summer on April 17th.

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