South Yorkshire's '˜alternative zoo' in top charity donation

Members of the public who went to The Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife & Falconry Centre in North Anston, which is home to meerkats, prairie dogs and birds of prey, donated a total £1242 to the Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Charity’s Hedgehog Hospital.

This beats last year’s total of £768.

The SWCC Hedgehog Hospital admits around 600 hedgehogs a year.

The hedgehogs are brought in by members of the public and are either orphaned, injured, sick or underweight.

They are then nurtured back to health at the hospital, and released back into the wild.

A single hedgehog can cost the Hospital more than £100 if an x-ray and small operation is required, therefore donations like this are vital.

The funds were raised from the sale of Tropical Butterfly House wristbands at the end of the twice daily animal and bird displays this autumn.

A spokesperson for The Tropical Butterfly House said: “We do not currently look after any hedgehogs themselves however they do have tenrec, which look very similar to hedgehogs and are often brought out during the twice daily exotic animals encounter.

“The Tropical Butterfly House have a passion for supporting native species.

“They also donate to international charities including the Hawk Conservancy Trust’s International Vulture Programme, and the Madagascar Fauna & Flora Group in support of endangered lemurs.”

For details about opening times and events held at The Tropical Butterfly House visit www.butterflyhouse.co.uk