Hedgehog and babies die after cruel attack by gang of boys

A PREGNANT hedgehog has died along with her three babies after being attacked by a group of boys.

Several youths were seen kicking the animal and throwing stones at it in the village of Shenley last Monday, according to Hertfordshire police.

Two passers-by intervened and the youths, thought to be aged between 12 and 13, were abusive towards them before fleeing down an alleyway.

The mammal was taken to London Colney Hedgehog Rescue where it was discovered that the animal was pregnant and had suffered a number of serious injuries including the loss of sight in one eye, spinal damage, a broken leg and a fractured jaw.

It subsequently gave birth to three

‘She was unable to eat and even syringe feeding was not fair with the amount of discomfort it was causing’

hoglets, all of which died, and the mother was put down on Monday after being judged to be too sick to survive.

The rescue centre, which takes in up to 300 hedgehogs every year, said it was “devastated” by the animal’s death in a message on Facebook.

The post added: “She had deteriorated and [was] unable to eat. The injury in the roof of her mouth was too severe to heal and impossible to stitch.

“The break had caused an open area to her nasal cavity resulting in her [being] unable to eat. Even syringe feeding was not fair with the amount of discomfort it was causing her.”

Vets found that the hedgehog was microchipped and checks revealed it had been born at a rescue centre last year after its mother was injured.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire police said: “Inquiries are continuing to identify the suspects at this time.

“We have conducted house-to-house and CCTV inquiries in the vicinity and spoken to the local schools.”