RSPCA Searching For Owner Of Pet African Pygmy Hedgehog Found In Cardiff

RSPCA Cymru is looking for the owner of a pet African pygmy hedgehog – after the animal was found in Cardiff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The unusual find was made by a member of the public, in the Llandaff North area in Cardiff, shortly before 7am on Saturday, 5 November. The hog was visibly frightened and was shaking. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

When collected, the animal, who has a white belly, was very cold and was put onto a hot water bottle to warm him up. Following some veterinary attention, the hog has been recovering well, and is continuing to do so in RSPCA care. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

People can confuse pygmy hedgehogs for the European species found native to the wild in the UK; however the two species are very different. Pygmy hedgehogs have very specific needs in captivity which are the same as their needs in the wild, including being kept at a specific temperature, and would not cope in the wild in the British climate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

RSPCA animal collection officer Stephanie Davidson said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We don’t know how this exotic pet ended up on the side of the road like this – but it is likely the hog escaped and has an owner out there who we are keen to find. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“An African pygmy hedgehog cannot survive in the wild here like our native hedgehogs and this little animal would have died if left where found. “The owner, or any member of the public with any information about where this hedgehog may have come from, should contact the RSPCA inspectorate information line on 0300 123 8018.”
Anyone claiming ownership of the animal must provide appropriate proof.The RSPCA routinely warns against the keeping of African pygmy hedgehogs as pets as they can be more difficult to care for than many people realise. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Highlighting their general unsuitability as domestic pets, Nicola White, RSPCA senior scientific officer for exotics and trade, added: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’re very concerned by claims that the African pygmy hedgehog is being classed as a latest pet craze. This species, like many exotics, can be difficult to look after and become ill or even die if not kept properly in captivity. They have very specific needs which relate to the environment they live in in the wild, and would require a heated enclosure with a carefully-controlled temperature of between 24-30°C. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These hedgehogs are nocturnal, travel long distances in the wild and anyone keeping one in captivity would need to allow for this natural behaviour, providing as large an enclosure and space as possible with plenty of hiding places and opportunity for digging, foraging and exercise. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​