The children in the backyard of our flat are from all nations. It is so interesting to watch them play, and to witness all kinds of social interaction among them. I was alarmed by kids calling: "A hedgehog, a hedgehog!" Indeed it was hiding unter the wooden bridge that is leading up to their play tower. Now they started deliberating on what to do. Take it to the animal protection station? I walked over and witnessed, but did not take the camera with me. The photos are shot by zoom from my balcony. The oriental children watched it with hardly hidden disgust and saw the hedgehog more as a prickly rat. The Africans compared it with a porcupine and asked whether it is dangerous to touch it. "Who is the owner?" one of them said. I replied, it is a wild animal and doesn't belong to anyone.
The hedgehog laid down in the middle of the crowd and fell asleep. I thought he (she?) might be dehydrated from remaining under the bridge all day. But he was not interested in water. All the kids were standing around him, and the boy in the turquoise shirt had the best ideas what to do and seemed well-informed, but the girl in pink shirt and red pants said: "You are not the commander". The hedgehog lay sleeping in the middle of the crowd. Then he got up and started nibbling ants. He strolled agross the lawn; I suggested just to let him go. I followed him in a distance. He did not seem to be scared of people; I guess he spent a winter in human company and was set out later. He wandered on along the walk, not missing a sugar bead he found on the way, and disappeared in the shrubs.
The children in the backyard of our flat are from all nations. It is so interesting to watch them play, and to witness all kinds of social interaction among them. I was alarmed by kids calling: "A hedgehog, a hedgehog!" Indeed it was hiding unter the wooden bridge that is leading up to their play tower. Now they started deliberating on what to do. Take it to the animal protection station? I walked over and witnessed, but did not take the camera with me. The photos are shot by zoom from my balcony. The oriental children watched it with hardly hidden disgust and saw the hedgehog more as a prickly rat. The Africans compared it with a porcupine and asked whether it is dangerous to touch it. "Who is the owner?" one of them said. I replied, it is a wild animal and doesn't belong to anyone. 
The hedgehog laid down in the middle of the crowd and fell asleep. I thought he (she?) might be dehydrated from remaining under the bridge all day. But he was not interested in water. All the kids were standing around him, and the boy in the turquoise shirt had the best ideas what to do and seemed well-informed, but the girl in pink shirt and red pants said: "You are not the commander". The hedgehog lay sleeping in the middle of the crowd. Then he got up and started nibbling ants. He strolled agross the lawn; I suggested just to let him go. I followed him in a distance. He did not seem to be scared of people; I guess he spent a winter in human company and was set out later. He wandered on along the walk, not missing a sugar bead he found on the way, and disappeared in the shrubs.
6 comments:
So glad he was left undisturbed.
A sort of ambassador.
That's a great story. I'm glad you were there to guide that situation along. I once looked out a window to see a group of refugees with a raccoon by the tail. My roommate and I ran out and got them to let it go. We think they were going to eat it (and I know they didn't need that, food was being provided).
The kids were goodwilling, but started all kinds of experiments to test his reactions.
eeewwwww - I've never seen a hedgehog; don't know if we have them here. Sounds like a strange experience.
wonderful story! love hedgehogs, they are so sweet and gentlelooking, it's hard to beleive they could harm anyone.
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