Overweight hedgehog Roly Poly (right) pictured on scales at Secret World Wildlife Rescue in Somerset next to a regular adult hedgehog (left).

Roly Poly put on a diet!

Bethan Evans, Reporter Thursday, May 31, 2012
10:00 AM

A HEDGEHOG, aptly named Roly Poly, has been declared obese and put on a strict diet at Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre in East Huntspill.

Overweight hedgehog Roly Poly at Secret World Wildlife Rescue centre.

The hungry creature has grown so big he is now twice the normal size of his companions and was found in a garage, by a Minehead couple, wrapped up in an old Father Christmas jacket.

At that time he was too underweight to hibernate safely and was kept warm on a heated pad. But Roly’s downfall was his love of cat food and staff at the centre found he now weighs 1kg 950g, and is so large he cannot curl up into a ball.

Visitors will also have a chance to see a host of animals and birds at Secret World’s wildlife babies open weekend from Saturday to Tuesday.