The staff of the Ramat Gan Safari’s wildlife veterinary hospital and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority saved a hedgehog hoglet last week from suffocating due to a plastic ring that was stuck around its throat.
More stories:
"When we examined the hedgehog, we were shocked to see a thick plastic ring (similar to those found on bottles) wrapped around its neck," said Dr. Ariella Rosenzweig, a veterinarian at the wildlife hospital.
"Based on the severity of the injury caused to the hoglet by the ring it seems it had it on for a long period of time, and likely continued to grow with the ring around its throat," she explained. "The hoglet arrived in the nick of time, as it would’ve likely died if the ring had remained in place. The hoglet was sedated before we removed the ring, which was already embedded in its neck and caused an infection in the wound."
The ring was removed carefully, and then the hoglet's wound was cleaned and disinfected. Fortunately, the ring didn’t affect vital structures in the hoglet’s neck. The young hedgehog is now receiving comprehensive care, including pain relief, antibiotics and fluids, and is hospitalized in an incubator with controlled heating and humidity levels with staff monitoring its condition.
Incidents in which wildlife is harmed by human litter are common and, in many cases, animals die after becoming trapped in drinking cans, bottles and other plastic waste.
"This case emphasizes the fact that the blame falls on us. Every discarded bottle or cap outside of a dedicated trash or recycling bin endangers wildlife in general and hedgehogs in particular. It’s up to the public to choose to throw away their trash in designated areas and not into natural environments,” the Safari said in a statement.