Promotion of underutilized indigenous food resources for food security and nutrition in Asia and the Pacific

Promotion of underutilized indigenous food resources for food security and nutrition in Asia and the Pacific

Porcupines in Hoanh Bo district, Quang Ninh province, Vietnam Author : Trieu Thi Hong Hanh Vietnam forestry university Co- author: Trieu Van Hai

Quang Ninh province is a large province located along the northeastern coast of Vietnam. The province is home to Ha Long Bay, one of new seven wonders of the world.

Introduction Scientific name: Acanthion subcristatum Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Rodentia Suborder : Hystricomorpha

Origin of porcupine breeding in Hoanh Bo District Early 2003, the FAO Par*cipatory Watershed Management Project in Hoanh Bo District (GCP/VIE/023/BEL) successfully introduced 64 porcupines from Son La Province to the villages Dong Lam, Tan Dan, and Dong Son in Hoanh Bo district. Within one year the porcupines adapted to the local climate and started to reproduce. While the FAO project closed at the end of 2003 the Hoanh Bo district authoriles acknowledged the success of this FAO pilot demonstralon and provided financial assistance to more families in other villages to introduce another 100 porcupines.

At the end of 2011, the number of porcupines in Hoanh Bo district amounted to 2,297 as follows: Villages/Towns Number of families breeder of porcupines Number of porcupines 1 Thị trấn Trới 15 105 2 Kỳ Thượng 4 16 3 Đồng Sơn 35 302 4 Tân Dân 40 568 5 Đồng Lâm 25 295 6 Hoà Bình 8 58 7 Vũ Oai 6 39 8 Dân Chủ 10 143 9 Quảng La 24 210 10 Bằng Cả 10 52 11 Thống Nhất 20 288 12 Sơn Dương 18 126 13 Lê Lợi 10 95 total 225 2.297

Prefered habitat Porcupines occupy a range of habitats in tropical and temperate parts. Porcupines live in forests, deserts, rocky outcrops and hillsides. Porcupines are generally nocturnal but are occasionally active during daylight

Characteristics Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend & camouflage them from predators. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines in Vietnam are about 80-90cm with an long tail. Weight is between 15-20 kg, they are rounded, large and slow.

Appearance Porcupines in Hoanh Bo provinces, Vietnam have a large head, short nose with four flat and very sharp teeth, small eyes, small ears, short legs, two hind limbs shorter than the two forelimbs, sharp nails. On the back hair turned into bristles with 10-30 in length. Porcupines male has a gong, tail longer than female, elongated body, and a more aggressive character.

Behaviour Porcupines are animals with can be very familial in captivity. In nature they are shy, fear animals. Instinct for self- defense is passive, not aggressive. Their weapon is fur.

Food The common porcupine is an herbivore. It eats leaves, herbs, twigs and green plants like skunk cabbage and clover and in the winter it may eat bark. Besides, they can eat insects, worms, etc.

Daily basis diet in period 2 meals/ 1 days Water: 1l/ 5 individuals/ 1 day Period ( months of age ) Kinds of food 1-3 4-6 7-9 10-12 Vegetables, fruits 0.300 kg 0.600 kg 1.200 kg 2.000 kg Mixed bran 0.010 kg 0.020 kg 0.040 kg 0.080 kg Rice, corns, beans 0.010 kg 0.020 kg 0.040 kg 0.080 kg Peanuts 0 kg 0.010 kg 0.020 kg 0.040 kg

Barn of porcupine Ensure cool, dry, clean, south east direction of the barn. The barn has to be quiet,avoid noise, avoid near the road, away from houses and standing end of the monsoon. The average barn area of 1m2/ 1 individual. Every box has size: 1-1.5m in wide, 1.5m in length,1-1.2m in height.

Reproduction Porcupines breed in the fall and the young porcupine are born in the spring with soft quills which harden shortly after birth. One year old porcupines can reproduce. Porcupines lay 2 litters per year, every litter lay 1-3 individuals. Pregnancy: From 90-95 days Laying: at night

Notes: - Clean barn daily - Watch out for inbreeding - Prevent porcupines from diseases. - Ensure nutritional needs - Sometimes porcupine need to eat some fruits that bitter flavor to against many diseases about digesting.

Uses - Food With high nutritional values : protein, Fe, vitamin B...

- Medicines: Quills to treat malaria Stomach to treat stomach disease

Situations In Hoanh Bo district, Quang Ninh provinces, Vietnam now has about 200 households are feeding porcupine with about 2297 individuals. Each year, there are about 940 porcupines are sold in this district with >600 porcupines are sold for meat, other porcupines are sold for breeding stock to other farmers. Feeding porcupine helps local people improve their life and get rich with 20-25 millions VND (=1000-1200 $)/ per 1 couple porcupines that are sold for breeding stock/ 1 year

Financial aspects - The typical investment required for farmer to get started raising porcupines: 10-12 millions vietnamdong/per 1 couple. But the farmers can feed 2-3 female porcupines with 1 male porcupine to save money. Besides, a couple porcupines can reproduct twice times/ per year and every time can be 1-3 individuals. - The operating costs (for feed and care): most of foods that are planted by the farmers, simple care...so this costs are negligible. - The price that farmers receive for porcupines when they sell them: 20-25 millions VND/ per 1 couple porcupines that are sold for breeding stock, and 250-300 thoundsands VND/ 1kg for meat.

- The buyers: Very variable, includes : the other farmers that want to feed it, restaurants, the other projects about feeding porcupines, middlemen, the buyers who have needs for medicines, and food from porcupines... -The original porcupine breeding stock came from Son La province, now provided by farmers from other locations, and was supported by the fact that there was a large potential market in Halong Bay where millions of tourists come every year of which many Asian.

Directions Porcupines breeding gives good financial/economic results. Many families earn high revenue from breeding and selling porcupines. An AssociaLon of porcupines breeders and an associalon of wild animals breeders are expected to be established in the district. - ConLnue to encourage families to develop porcupines big farm. - Put up geographic indicalons/signs to promote porcupines bred in the district

Thank you for your attention!

References : Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/porcupine Pictures : In google search and take photograph by ourself Address of authors : Trieu Thi Hong Hanh Vietnam forestry university Email: Hannahtrieu92@gmail.com Trieu Van Hai Email: Trieuhai2001vn@yahoo.com