New knowledge tools for crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata L., 1758) management in the wild.First census model, new behavioural ecology aspects and preliminary inestigation on health status.

The crested porcupine is a widespread species in Italy and no data are available concerning the density and health status of the Italian porcupine population and there is few knowledge on its behavioural ecology. In this study new behavioural ecology and health aspects of a porcupine population were investigated in two areas. In both areas geolocation and distribution analysis of ground entrance holes and settlements were performed. Experimental settlements in both areas were monitored by camera-traps and capture-marking campaigns were performed in order to make the animals recognisable in the camera traps videos. Biological samples from captured and road killed porcupines were collected for health investigations. The ground holes resulted clustered in well defined settlements. The settlements are distributed in binary systems called “stations” and show a preferred orientation trend throughout the N-W and S-E axis. The crested porcupine was the main inhabitant of settlements and occasionally co-habit with badger. Each settlement was always inhabited by only one porcupine family group. Each porcupine family group always alternatively and complementarly inhabited two settlements belonging to a station with a different inhabitation pattern not season dependent. The density of porcupine was 3.9 individuals/Km2 in EA1 and 3.6 individuals/Km2 in EA2. The reproductive behaviour of wild porcupine, the pattern of first emerging time from burrow during the year and peculiar behaviours as sunbathing and scavenging on carcasses were documented and described. Six parasites including Giardia duodenalis assemblage BIV were identified. Leptospira seropositivities were found and Leptospira interrogans serogroup Pomona serovar Pomona was isolated for the first time. The results obtained in this investigation provide a new set of knowledge tools on crested porcupine biology that could be useful for its management and conservation.