A 7ft tall hedgehog has arrived in London.
But, thankfully for the denizens of that great metropolis, it isn't real.
The prickly Erinaceinae has been unveiled to mark the launch of Sir David Attenborough's new TV wildlife series.
The beast emerged from two months of hibernation at a workshop - where a team of sculptors crafted him from 2,000 soft wood spikes and fake fur consisting of a willow and coconut fibre-mix - to help Sir David launch his new 10-part series Natural Curiosities.
The legendary naturalist, 87, described the giant hedgehog, as it was unveiled at Clapham Common in south London, as "a fitting tribute to one of our most delightful species".
Natural Curiosities is to be aired on British natural history TV channel Eden on Tuesdays at 8pm from February 18. In the series Sir David shares the stories of extraordinary creatures and reveals why he considers them to be nature's curiosities.
Giant Hedgehog Marks Launch Of Sir David Attenborough Series 'Natural Curiosities'
Huffington Post UK
16/02/2014
Giant hedgehogs have landed in London demanding the servitude of the human race.
Not really.
Standing at 7ft tall, 12ft long and 8ft wide, the prickly creature that is bigger than a rhinoceros or 4x4 vehicle has been unveiled to mark the launch of a new Sir David Attenborough series.
Bodhi (no surname given),three, looks up at a model of a hedgehog, measuring 12 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 7 feet tall, on Clapham Common in south London to mark the launch of the second series of David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities on the Eden channel
The beast emerged from two months of hibernation at a workshop - where a team of sculptors crafted him from 2,000 soft wood spikes and fake fur consisting of a willow and coconut fibre-mix - to help Sir David launch his new 10-part series Natural Curiosities.
The wildlife expert described the giant hedgehog, as it was unveiled at Clapham Common in south London, as "a fitting tribute to one of our most delightful species".
Sculptor Andy Billet said: "This was my most challenging brief to date and we spent weeks replicating the skin tones and spikes to make the build as lifelike as possible."
Some 74% of people are concerned about the dwindling numbers of British hedgehogs and believe more should be done to protect them, according to a survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by TV channel Eden.
It also found 25% of Britons said they had never seen a hedgehog in the wild.
"The fact that a quarter of British adults have never seen a wild hedgehog suggests that we are witnessing rapidly dwindling numbers which is a concern," Sir David said.
"Hedgehogs have some interesting habits and play a very useful part in keeping down all kinds of insect pests. What people don't know about hedgehogs is that in the wild they have vast territories, and they roam for miles on end.
"And how do they mate? Very carefully!"
In the new show - aired on Eden on Tuesdays at 8pm from February 18 - Sir David shares the stories of extraordinary creatures and reveals why he considers them to be nature's curiosities.
Dinsdale! Giant hedgehog starts appearing in London - YouTube
Giant Hedgehog Marks Launch Of Sir David Attenborough Series 'Natural Curiosities'
But, thankfully for the denizens of that great metropolis, it isn't real.
The prickly Erinaceinae has been unveiled to mark the launch of Sir David Attenborough's new TV wildlife series.
The beast emerged from two months of hibernation at a workshop - where a team of sculptors crafted him from 2,000 soft wood spikes and fake fur consisting of a willow and coconut fibre-mix - to help Sir David launch his new 10-part series Natural Curiosities.
The legendary naturalist, 87, described the giant hedgehog, as it was unveiled at Clapham Common in south London, as "a fitting tribute to one of our most delightful species".
Natural Curiosities is to be aired on British natural history TV channel Eden on Tuesdays at 8pm from February 18. In the series Sir David shares the stories of extraordinary creatures and reveals why he considers them to be nature's curiosities.
Giant Hedgehog Marks Launch Of Sir David Attenborough Series 'Natural Curiosities'
Huffington Post UK
16/02/2014
Giant hedgehogs have landed in London demanding the servitude of the human race.
Not really.
Standing at 7ft tall, 12ft long and 8ft wide, the prickly creature that is bigger than a rhinoceros or 4x4 vehicle has been unveiled to mark the launch of a new Sir David Attenborough series.
Bodhi (no surname given),three, looks up at a model of a hedgehog, measuring 12 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 7 feet tall, on Clapham Common in south London to mark the launch of the second series of David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities on the Eden channel
The beast emerged from two months of hibernation at a workshop - where a team of sculptors crafted him from 2,000 soft wood spikes and fake fur consisting of a willow and coconut fibre-mix - to help Sir David launch his new 10-part series Natural Curiosities.
The wildlife expert described the giant hedgehog, as it was unveiled at Clapham Common in south London, as "a fitting tribute to one of our most delightful species".
Sculptor Andy Billet said: "This was my most challenging brief to date and we spent weeks replicating the skin tones and spikes to make the build as lifelike as possible."
Some 74% of people are concerned about the dwindling numbers of British hedgehogs and believe more should be done to protect them, according to a survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by TV channel Eden.
It also found 25% of Britons said they had never seen a hedgehog in the wild.
"The fact that a quarter of British adults have never seen a wild hedgehog suggests that we are witnessing rapidly dwindling numbers which is a concern," Sir David said.
"Hedgehogs have some interesting habits and play a very useful part in keeping down all kinds of insect pests. What people don't know about hedgehogs is that in the wild they have vast territories, and they roam for miles on end.
"And how do they mate? Very carefully!"
In the new show - aired on Eden on Tuesdays at 8pm from February 18 - Sir David shares the stories of extraordinary creatures and reveals why he considers them to be nature's curiosities.
Dinsdale! Giant hedgehog starts appearing in London - YouTube
Giant Hedgehog Marks Launch Of Sir David Attenborough Series 'Natural Curiosities'