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Nature Trust Clears Air Over Maltese Hedgehog Found Without Arms

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A hedgehog that was found without two of its forelimbs may not have lost them due to human abuse, a representative from Nature Trust has told Lovin Malta, but may have eaten its own limbs due to an injury.

Explaining that they are still awaiting the hedgehog in question for further inspection, the representative explained how it wasn’t uncommon for hedgehogs to be found with a limb or two missing.

While he hadn’t seen the hedgehog himself, he said that hedgehogs will eat their own limbs if the limbs become infected, injured, or the hedgehog becomes ill. 

It is a survival mechanism for hedgehogs.

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He said that this wasn’t the first time a hedgehog had been brought in to Nature Trust with a limb missing. 

A hedgehog could also turn to eating an injured limb in the case that the limb had been run over, for example.

The hedgehog had been found by a woman who was walking her dog. The dog started barking at a nearby garbage bag which contained the hedgehog.

The Nature Trust representative said it was possible the hedgehog had crawled in there for some food.

Saved Hedgehog

What to do if you find an injured animal

If you find an injured wild animal, do not try to help it yourself, but call Animal Welfare or Nature Trust on 99999505 for their assistance.

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Have you come across any injured animals in the wild?

READ NEXT: Dozens Of Stolen Dogs And Horses Found In Squalid Conditions As Police Break Animal Abuse Ring

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]

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