Three Hoglets Found Tangled Up In Plastic Under Floriana Guard Booth

Soldier Sheldon Pisani was outside the Italian Embassy in Floriana when he noticed the first tiny hoglet near the guard booth and called for assistance.

When a Nature Trust volunteer arrived, she noticed how tiny it was, with it barely being able to walk. While checking the surrounding area, she heard further cries coming from under the guard booth.

Lying down with her check against the pavement, she spotted two more tiny hoglets.

With Sheldon helping by holding torches, the volunteer worked to reach both of them and successfully brought them out. They were tangled in discarded plastic, with one having its breathing restricted by the plastic. Thankfully, it was removed and the baby hedgehog survived.

All three are now safe in Nature Trust’s care, despite being very small and weak. They have a long journey ahead of them to grow up and get healthy again.

‘What happened to these hoglets is just one of the ways discarded plastic can harm wildlife’, the team explained

‘Plastic waste does not simply disappear once it leaves our hands. Left in the environment, it can become a hazard for wildlife in many different ways. Animals can become trapped or entangled in bags, netting, loops and other discarded material, restricting their ability to move, feed or breathe.’

‘In this case the hoglets were entangled in plastic, had been crying for quite a while and were very hungry. Otherwise, we remind the public to never interfere with a hoglet nest if you accidentally come across one, as it could prevent the mother from coming back.’

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Source: Nature Trust