Current records of porcupine in northeast India: distribution, habitat preference and conservation

Porcupines are found in different parts of Northeast India. Three species of porcupines have been reported from northeast India. Except for some discrete reports, the detailed distribution of porcupine has not yet been studied. To have a clear idea of the present distribution of porcupines in northeast India, their habitat preference, all available reports and literature have been reviewed. The study revealed Himalayan porcupine is distributed all over northeast India and have wide environmental tolerance from tropical to the temperate forest and sub-montane forest. Several anthropogenic threats including poaching for its delicious meat have reduced its population at an alarming rate. Priority should be given to the conservation of the species before reaching to endangered level.