Overview

• The IUCN Red List has downgraded the conservation status of the Western European hedgehog from 'least concern' to 'near threatened'.
• Hedgehog populations have decreased by 16-33% in several European countries over the past decade, with some areas experiencing declines up to 75%.
• Primary threats include habitat fragmentation from urban development, road traffic, and the use of pesticides that reduce their food sources.
• Conservationists urge simple actions like creating 'hedgehog highways' and reducing pesticide use to support population recovery.
• The IUCN report also highlights that 38% of the world's tree species are threatened, emphasizing the broader biodiversity crisis.