Hunt for cruel thugs who tortured and set fire to hedgehog

Police are on the hunt for heartless vandals believed to have set a hedgehog on fire in Plymouth. Officers from the Devonport and West Neighbourhood policing team took to their Facebook page to issue an appeal, stating that such shocking behaviour would be 'dealt with robustly'.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society has reported a sharp decline in rural hedgehog numbers, with more than half disappearing from Britain since 2000. Under Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, hedgehogs are legally protected in Britain, making it unlawful to kill or capture them using certain methods., reports Plymouth Live .

In Northern Ireland, similar protections are in place under Schedule 6 and 7 of the Wildlife Order 1985.

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