Police Identify Suspects in Hedgehog Abuse Case

A hedgehog has died after being allegedly thrown around and buried alive by three schoolgirls in a Merseyside park. The animal, named 'Hedgy,' was rescued by two young boys and their mother before being taken to Haydock Hedgehog Helpers Rescue. Despite receiving treatment, Hedgy passed away the following day. Lancashire Police are investigating the incident, with reports indicating that the girls, believed to be around 10-12 years old, were seen throwing the hedgehog down a slide and into the air before burying it in a pot plant. The rescue charity's head, Kelly Leyland, stated that Hedgy was already unwell due to a condition called flystrike, which may have prevented him from curling into a protective ball. Police have identified individuals involved and are cooperating with them. The incident has sparked outrage, with Leyland expressing shock and sadness over the animal's treatment. The charity noted that human attacks on hedgehogs are rare, with only six cases out of over 1,000 animals helped in the past seven years. Hedgehogs are listed as vulnerable in the UK, with a 30% decline in their population over the last decade.