At 70, Ramli has found a ‘prickly’ retirement activity

At 70, Ramli Ismail has discovered a unique retirement hobby in raising Malayan porcupines, transforming his personal interest into a practical part of his daily routine. In 2015, when he first brought three pairs of the prickly animals home, Ramli was not aiming to create a business; he simply enjoyed the creatures and wanted to see if he could care for them successfully in his Kampung Bukit Payong home.

Over the years, the population grew steadily, with the animals multiplying into dozens and even reaching 42 at one point. Today, Ramli houses 38 porcupines, each weighing between 8kg and 15kg, in 22 enclosures.

Managing the animals has required continuous learning, from their diet and breeding cycles to ensuring they have adequate space. Ramli invested RM20,000 in 2018 to build additional cages and later added another enclosure with RM20,000 in agency assistance. Despite the growing need for space, Ramli finds the porcupines relatively easy to feed, with a diet consisting of pellets, corn, grass, and other plants, including leaves commonly given to goats.

Ramli holds a commercial license to rear and breed the species and sells some of the animals as breeding pairs. Malayan porcupines are hardy and adaptable, making them manageable for home rearing due to their simple feeding needs. A pair of porcupines can fetch around RM2,000, and the animals' meat sells for up to RM100 per kg. Ramli sees the venture as providing his retirement with a regular rhythm and an unusual daily care routine.