If there’s one very Maltese symbol of protecting the environment, it’s Xummiemu the hedgehog. The classic Maltese character has been missing from the scene for a few years, and now we know why: he’s dead.

At least, that’s what one Maltese man thinks, after releasing a poignant sketch showing a hanged Xummiemu in front of a built-up, crane-filled environment.

“In the end, the hardest thing for Xummiemu was to find a tree…” popular Maltese artist Seb Tanti Burlo’ said in the caption of the powerful picture.

People felt the sketch captured the desperation many feel on an island that only seems to get more and more built-up

One person asked if Xummiemu had hung himself from a crane, while another simple stated: “Probably they found a kilo of plastic inside him.”

Burlo’ has been known to take on controversial topics with his black and white, scraggly sketches

Just yesterday, he waded into the PN’s abortion billboard debacle with aplomb.

But environmental issues are a major theme in his works

What do you think of these works? Let us know in the comments below

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Johnathan Cilia

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]