Seventeen hedgehogs from wildlife sanctuary The Fûgelhelling released at AquaZoo

Seventeen hedgehogs have been released at AquaZoo. The animals were brought in earlier this year weak or injured at wildlife shelter De Fûgelhelling with the help of animal ambulance de Wissel. Now that the hedgehogs have recovered after several weeks of good care, they could be released back into the wild.

General manager Jeroen Loomeijer: "At AquaZoo you will of course find all kinds of exotic animals and we like to tell our visitors the stories that go with them. The stories of native species, such as the hedgehogs, are at least as important! They play a crucial role in our Frisian biodiversity."

Hetty Sinnema of The Fûgelhelling: "The cooperation is so incredibly valuable. It's actually a 'soft release' for the hedgehogs. They learn in a safe environment how to take care of themselves." Should things still not go well for the hedgehogs, AquaZoo can intervene. "But we assume no visibility, good news," Sinnema said.

Animal Ambulance
The injured or weak animals were brought to De Fûgelhelling by Dierenambulance de Wissel. Thirza Hoekstra, employee of the animal ambulance explains, "Hedgehogs are having an increasingly difficult time because it is becoming more difficult for them to get insects, their main source of food. This is because there is less and less greenery to be found in cities - and therefore also fewer worms, beetles and caterpillars. In addition, due to the increasingly warm winters, they awaken too early from their hibernation: in those first weeks there are no insects yet. As a result, the hedgehogs are brought inside weakly."

Due to human activity, the hedgehogs sometimes come in injured. Hoekstra: "The animals are hit by (robotic) lawnmowers, get caught in litter or are attacked by dogs or cats." The advice reads, "Make sure there is enough greenery in the garden so that it attracts insects. Do not clean up the garden during the period when hedgehogs are hibernating, clean up (litter) and keep a close eye on pets."

Collaboration
This is the second time hedgehogs have been released at AquaZoo. The first time took place in 2020. Loomeijer: "Since then we regularly work together, for example when it comes to knowledge exchange." Sinnema adds: "AquaZoo not only helps us with the opportunity to release the animals here and tell the story, but through Stichting Wildlife we are also well served! Because of the foundation, we were able to build new enclosures at the shelter."

A total of 26 hedgehogs have now been released at AquaZoo.

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