Last week, a concerned passerby spotted a hedgehog struggling with a purple tinsel-like plastic wrapped tightly around its front leg and torso. Acting quickly, they contacted the Wildlife Rescue Team Malta, who rushed to the scene.

Upon arrival, a volunteer identified the material as UV-degraded plastic packaging, which had broken down into thin strands, entangling the hedgehog. The little fighter was named Stringy, fittingly after the plastic that had caused his ordeal.

The plastic had inflicted severe injuries, but once carefully removed, Stringy began to heal at an impressive rate. In just one week, his wounds showed one of the fastest recoveries ever recorded by the Wildlife Rescue Team! Now, with his injuries behind him, Stringy is receiving treatment for a skin condition, expected to clear up within six weeks.

If you’d like to support Stringy’s journey, you can virtually adopt him and even be there for his release back into the wild once he’s fully recovered!

This heartwarming rescue is also a stark reminder of why it’s crucial to dispose of waste responsibly. Left-behind litter can be devastating to wildlife - let’s all do our part to protect nature and keep our countryside clean! If you spot a wild animal injured or in danger, call the Wildlife Rescue Team on 99999505. 

Have you ever seen a hedgehog in the wild?