Hedgehogs at risk of extinction: Spiky animals could disappear by 2050 • FRANCE 24 English

You might have seen them poking their noses into your garden. But hedgehogs could soon disappear. Killed on the roads, trapped in fences, starved to death because of pesticides. Sarah Stole is on a mission to save them. Based near Paris, this animal lover encourages people to leave water and kibbles in their garden, but no bread nor milk. Charlotte, dead leaves and logs can also provide shelter for the hedgehogs. Every little helps to make their lives easier. One simple thing that can really make a difference is cutting a small hole about 10 cm wide at the bottom of your fence or wall so hedgehogs can go through. In the UK, they’ve created hedgehog highways, linking gardens together, and it’s helping populations bounce back. And if you come across a wounded animal, call a wildlife rescue center. Mimi and Payet are just a few weeks old and are getting plenty of attention. They’re weighed and checked every day to make sure they’re eating well because they won’t tell us if they’re not feeling good. Every year, this center rescues 120 hedgehogs. In recent years, their average lifespan has dropped to barely 2 years, which isn’t long enough for them to reproduce. So by 2050 they could completely disappear. [Music] The race is on to save them. British scientists may have found a solution with the help of new technology, satellite images, and AI. They’re identifying bushes where hedgehogs are likely to live. A breakthrough that could help protect them and other animals, too. It’s pretty exciting for nature that we can actually um get a really good sense of not just one species but tens of thousands of species. And then once we know where they are, we can help protect their habitats and to prioritize um exactly what we do in terms of human actions. A promising new technology that could soon work on any mobile phone.

In some parts of Europe, the number of hedgehogs has halved️. Animal activists warn that these tiny, spiky creatures could disappear by 2050. In France and the UK, rescue centres are racing to save them – with the help of new technology. Our France 2 colleagues report.
#Hedgehogs #DownToEarth #Environment

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