Battle to save hedgehogs begins

VOLUNTEERS have begun the fight to save thousands of hedgehogs from a cull. About 15 animal lovers arrived on the Uists, in the Western Isles, over the weekend as the conservation charity Advocates For Animals stepped up its efforts to rescue the threatened mammals. Their arrival comes days before Scottish Natural Heritage starts exterminating the first of 5,000 hedgehogs as part of an effort to safeguard breeding wading birds on the islands.

Groups of animal lovers aim to take as many hedgehogs as possible to safe havens on the mainland.