WHAT YOU WILL NEED: • Paper plate • Scissors • Pencil • Black marker or felt tip pens
STEP 1 – Take your paper plate and fold it in half
STEP 2 – Draw a hedgehog outline on the paper plate
STEP 3 – Cut out the hedgehog shape
STEP 4 – Cut strips from the outer edge of the plate to create the hedgehog’s spines
STEP 5 – Draw on the hedgehog’s mouth, eyes and nose And now you have your own little spiky hedgehog friend!
FUN FACTS:
Belfast Zoo is home to three African pygmy hedgehogs Our hedgehogs are a very important part of our education team here at Belfast Zoo. They help teach people about the very important message of conservation. Pygmy hedgehogs originate from Central and Eastern Africa and are also known as the four-toed hedgehog, as it has four toes on each of its hind feet.
These hedgehogs prefer a grassy habitat or live in woodland areas. The African pygmy hedgehog is a solitary animal (prefers to live on its own) and is also nocturnal. These hedgehogs can swim and climb! The most common sounds made are snorts, hisses, and a quiet twittering sound.
When they feel threatened or scared, they tense up all the muscles on their back to cause its spines to stand up and then roll into a ball protecting their limbs and head.
