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Erinaceus europaeus
This baby european hedgehog, was handed to me by a conservation vet, to raise him and release him in the wild, along with his other 3 orphaned simblings. Their mom died after she consumed fallen fruits sprayed with garden fertilisers. Only one baby survived, and was able to be released, Vrasidas (he was named after a Spartan ancient general - I usually give ancient greek names to the hedgehogs I raise, and always a general's name, when it's a male :).
The species was introduced in NZ, and it is now considered a pest. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehogs_i...
2 Comments
Because that's the policy with hedgehogs in NZ. It wasn't a possum, wich are considered more dangerous...But honnestly, there isn't an alternative here: It's either release in the wild, or death...And I am sorry, but I can't kill any animal (and especially babies), no matter what's a country's policy against introduced or native animal species...I am a wildlife volunteer, and I don't do discriminations.
How cute!!! Why will you release it in the wild if it's considered a pest in NZ?