This is the heartbreaking moment a neglected hedgehog was seen hobbling around its zoo cage befoåre finally being rescued.

Visitor Rattanaporn Jaiaree spotted the sick animal while visiting the Somdej Phra Srinakharin park in Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand on Tuesday (September 3).

The seven-year-old hedgehog was seen struggling to walk as he shuffled over to his water bowl. His quills were also falling off due to a severe skin disease.

The visitor said: ''I was not familiar with the animal but I felt sorry for him as he had no strength to move at all.''

Animal welfare groups were alerted on the same day and descended on the zoo to rescue the hedgehog and take him to hospital for treatment.

Officers from the Nakhon Si Thammarat Livestock Department arrived at the zoo and found two other hedgehogs in the enclosure were also infected by similar skin disease.

Zoo employee Jerm Kamlangkua, 61, told the staff that the zoo's license has expired and the local council had not extended it, so the workers had not been taking proper care of the animals.

He said: ''The elderly hedgehog is about seven years old and those hedgehogs have an average life span of four to eight years.

''The zoo did not acquire new animals as it was going to close soon. Meanwhile, we did our best to look after every animal remaining in the zoo.''

The neglected hedgehogs have been separated from others and are now being treated by the vets at the Livestock Department.

The worker added: ''They are now at the hospital under the observation by the authorities.''

This is the heartbreaking moment a neglected hedgehog was seen hobbling around its zoo cage befoåre finally being rescued.

Visitor Rattanaporn Jaiaree spotted the sick animal while visiting the Somdej Phra Srinakharin park in Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand on Tuesday (03/09).

The seven-year-old hedgehog was seen struggling to walk as he shuffled over to his water bowl. His quills were also falling off due to a severe skin disease.

The visitor said: ''I was not familiar with the animal but I felt sorry for him as he had no strength to move at all.''

Animal welfare groups were alerted on the same day and descended on the zoo to rescue the hedgehog and take him to hospital for treatment.

Officers from the Nakhon Si Thammarat Livestock Department arrived at the zoo and found two other hedgehogs in the enclosure were also infected by the similar skin disease.

Zoo employee Jerm Kamlangkua, 61, told the staff that the zoo's license has expired and the local council had not extended it, so the workers had not been taking proper care of the animals.

He said: ''The elderly hedgehog is about seven years old and those hedgehogs have an average life span of four to eight years.

''The zoo did not acquire new animals as it was going to close soon. Meanwhile, we did our best to look after every animal remaining in the zoo.''

The neglected hedgehogs have been separated from others and are now being treated by the vets at the Livestock Department.

The worker added: ''They are now at the hospital under the observation by the authorities.''