Three hedgehogs were released by Nature Trust Malta today in the Wied Ghollieqa nature reserve.

The release was made in the presence of the Minister for Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Change José Herrera, and members of the Nature Trust Wildlife Rescue volunteers, together with the family of Christina Magrin – winner of the Junior Eurovision Contest 2016.

A female hedgehog was found a while back by Christina and her sister Karla Magrin. They called Nature Trust Rescue, and it was discovered that the hedgehog was in fact blind in one eye.

The vet advised that the hedgehog could not be returned to the wild due to her permanent disability. A few weeks later, while recovering and in rehabilitation – she gave birth to two hoglets.

These hoglets were kept with their mum who nurtured them until they were independent. They were were trained to eat natural food such as snails and insects. At 24 weeks they were deemed old enough to be released in the wild.

Another adult hedgehog which was rescued with a minor injury the week before and which had recovered after medication, also joined the release today.

Minster Herrera congratulated Nature Trust – FEE Malta on this laudable initiative. He added that it was “indispensable for the future of our beautiful country to preserve at all costs our local fauna.”

Nature Trust – FEE Malta advised that the Algerian Hedgehog which is native to the Maltese islands is a protected species and said that it is therefore illegal to keep as a pet.

During this year, Nature Trust said that various hedgehogs have been rescued by the Wildlife Volunteers and assisted by the Voluntary Vets with the NGO.

NT-FEE Malta also appealed to the public not to remove hedgehogs unless injured as hedgehogs seen could be mothers out hunting during the night to feed their young.

Permalink: Three hedgehogs released at Wied Ghollieqa nature reserve