Harper the hedgehog 'graduates' after unusual rescue mission proves a success

A hedgehog whose rescue last year saw him visit Shropshire while his rescuer attended her Graduation Celebration Ceremony is set to be rereleased into the wild later today.

The hedgehog was even dubbed Harper by his rescuer, Genevieve Tomlinson, after his impromptu visit during last year’s ceremony in July.

Genevieve set up the Hog Hospital, a hedgehog rescue, after qualifying as a Veterinary Nurse.

She had been preparing for her Graduation after securing a Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy as a part time student when Harper was brought in. In a piece for the Harper website, she explained: “He was less than a week old and was severely dehydrated and was suffering with fly strike with no mum in sight.

“He was incredibly lucky to have been found as he wouldn't have survived even a couple more hours.

 “Initially it was very tough getting him stable, but with fluids on board, a toasty warm bed and one to two hourly feeds around the clock, he slowly started to recover.

“Three days after he arrived, I was due to attend my graduation at Harper Adams - which had been delayed due to covid - and because this tiny hog needed feeds, toileting and monitoring every one to two hours, he came too!”

With Genevieve’s care and attention, with a month Harper was on the mend – and after spending the autumn and winter building up his strength, he is set to be rereleased back into the wild later tonight, alongside two other rehabilitated hogs.

Genevieve added: “Little Harper has finally graduated himself – we are going to miss his cheeky little character!”