A man from Krakow faces eviction by his local council for running a hedgehog shelter and hospital from his bed-sit.

Andrzej Kuziomski, a former courier-turned Poland’s top hedgehog rescue expert, fell in love with the spiky animals two years ago when his work mate brought an injured one to his home.

Kuziomski has since devoted his time to helping hedgehogs in their unequal confrontation with cars, predators and cruel and heartless people.

Last June, he opened Poland’s first and only Hedgehog Rehabilitation Centre in his small rented bed-sit in Krakow, complete with a hedgehog rescue hotline.

Soon he found himself living together with over 50 injured, sick and abandoned hedgehogs. The floor of his home is  taken up by carton boxes which act as sleeping zones, with the exception of the central area of the flat, which is a play area for his spiky friends.

The busiest time is at night, when his patients wake up and need feeding.

Andrzej Kuziomski has been running the centre by himself and footing considerable bills for food and veterinary care. Eventually, he was unable to pay rent and was to be evicted on November 1.

The date was postponed when several his situation attracted the attention of the mass media. City officials tell him to close the centre and give the hedgehogs under his care to the nearest veterinary clinic. But this is an option, Kuziomski will not even consider. He does not believe Poland cannot afford one rescue centre to hedgehogs, which are protected animals. (kk)