Porcupine                                                         

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Context: Thousands of farmers in the Kashmir Valley are facing a new and unusual enemy to their livelihood - porcupines attacking almond and apple trees.

• It attacks trees during winters and peels the bark of fruit tree. Eventually the tree dies within one year.

About Porcupines:

• They are large, thorny rodents.
• Their coats with sharp spines or quills protect them against predation.
• They have a relatively high longevity and hold the record for being the longest-living rodent.
• Defensive behaviour displays in a porcupine depend on sight, scent and sound.
• Indian Crested Porcupine is the largest rodent of India, which is widely distributed in the Indian Subcontinent.
• One of the highly traded species in India due to the superstitious belief.
• Conservation status:
  • least concern species of IUCN Red List
  • Under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/apple-almond-orchards-being-destroyed-in-kashmir-because-porcupines-2774647#:~:text=Thousands%20of%20farmers%20in%20the,attacking%20almond%20and%20apple%20trees.&text=%22It%20is%20attacking%20trees%20during,tree%20dies%20within%20one%20year.