The disturbing case of a hedgehog being painted blue and yellow in Leeds has led to four arrests and raised awareness about the plight of the declining hedgehog population in Britain.
According to reports, a woman found an adult female hedgehog at her home in Yeadon, Leeds, West Yorkshire, with the animal appearing to have been painted in the Leeds United football colours of yellow and blue.
The paint had serious consequences for the hedgehog, making it unable to curl up into a ball and causing breathing problems due to the fumes from the paint.
Staff at a local hedgehog rescue centre, Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue in Otley, Leeds, took in the animal and had to scrub clean the oil-based paint from each individual spine and administer pain relief.
The rescue centre's owner, Diane Cook, expressed her outrage at the incident, saying the actions were "absolutely appalling" and that the hedgehog's restricted movement made it vulnerable to predators and put its life at risk.
Police have arrested four men, aged 44, 21, 17, and 15, on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and have bailed them for further enquiries to take place.
Hedgehogs are in decline in Britain, with numbers falling by up to 30% in urban areas and 50% in rural areas since the turn of the century, according to the latest State of Britain's hedgehogs report.
The incident highlights the need for greater protection and care for Britain's vulnerable hedgehog population, and serves as a reminder of the importance of treating animals with kindness and respect.
