Baku:Kampung Bukit Payong A retired Public Works Department employee in Hulu Besut has transformed his hobby of rearing Malayan porcupines into a profitable venture. Ramli Ismail, 70, began this pursuit in 2015 with just three pairs of porcupines, initially driven by personal interest rather than financial gain.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ramli's modest start with three wire-mesh cages behind his house has blossomed into a larger operation. His porcupine population peaked at 42, and he currently manages 38 animals, each weighing between eight and 15 kilograms. The growth of his porcupine population prompted him to invest RM20,000 in 2018 to expand his facilities with additional cages.

Further support came in 2020 when he received RM20,000 from the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority to build another enclosure, increasing his total number of enclosures to 22. Ramli noted the commercial potential of Malayan porcupines, given their relatively short gestation period of three to four months, which facilitates rapid breeding and population expansion.

Feeding the porcupines is manageable due to their non-selective diet, which includes animal feed pellets, corn, and various plants, such as leaves and grass typically fed to goats. Ramli holds a commercial license from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks to rear and breed these animals.

He sells porcupine meat at RM100 per kilogram and breeding pairs for RM2,000. The meat is versatile, suitable for preparation in curries, stir-fries, and soups, while deep-frying results in a crispy skin texture.