英国发现无刺刺猬外表似土豆

The hog with no hedge: How a mysterious skin condition made Spud's spikes fall out
英国发现无刺刺猬外表似土豆

英国白金汉郡迪基温克勒斯(Tiggywinkles)野生动物医院去年收治了一只无刺的刺猬，其外表看起来就如同土豆。专家认为，刺猬无刺可能是因一种神秘的皮肤病所致。

　　野生动物医院的工作人员从去年8月开始就在悉心照料这只无刺的刺猬，并给它取名“斯普德”(Spud)。他们对“斯普德”的病症也是一筹莫展。这家动物医院的创始人利斯·斯托克(Les Stocker)说：“去年，有人在花园中发现了‘斯普德’，便将它送到我们这里。”

　　“它接受了活体检查和皮肤检测，但我们未能找出原因。‘斯普德’看上去快乐无比，除了没长硬刺，与别的刺猬无异。我们已经呼吁人们献计献策，找出导致这种问题的原因，并提出治疗建议，无论是顺势疗法，还是其它一些自然治疗。”

　　斯托克补充说：“我们认为‘斯普德’至少有三岁。我们不清楚，它是天生就得了这种怪病，还是后天变成了这副模样。我们担心，到了冬天，‘斯普德’可能无法承受外面的寒冷，所以，不敢冒险将其放出去。有趣的是，有人还给我们送来了一只脱了毛的松鼠，我们给它取名为‘斯姆思’(Smoothie)，我们同样不清楚它的问题所在。”

　　迪基温克勒斯野生动物医院的工作人员在“斯普德”皮下发现了一根硬刺，由此认为它仍然可以长出硬刺。刺猬是英国唯一一种不受大多数食肉动物侵袭的动物，主要依靠浑身上下的硬刺来保护自己。据专家介绍，在极端压力或生病状况下，刺猬身上的硬刺有时会脱落，如此一来，它们很难像以前一样在遇到危险时圈成一团，变成有刺的球。


He looks like a cross between a battered children's toy and a pink potato.

Meet Spud, the spineless hedgehog.

Staff at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire, who have been caring for him since August, are baffled by his condition.




Spineless Spud: His plight has left the wildlife experts perplexed

无刺刺猬外表看起来有点类似土豆

Founder Les Stocker said: 'Spud was brought to us last year after someone found him in their garden. He's had biopsies and skin tests, but we've had no answers.
'He seems quite happy and does all the things a hedgehog should. We're now appealing for someone to come forward with ideas about what has caused his problem, and suggestions for treatment, whether it's homeopathy or some other natural treatment.'


Pampered: Spud has to undergo a daily routine of a warm bath, followed by a baby oil massage
无刺刺猬斯普德每天要洗个热水澡，接着进行婴儿油按摩

Mr Stocker added: 'We think he's at least three years old, but we don't know if he was born like this or it was a problem that developed later in life.

'The fear is that in winter it would get too cold for him, so we can't risk releasing him.

'Funnily enough we've got a bald squirrel in too.

'We call him Smoothie, and we don't know what his problem is either.'

Staff believe he is still able to grow spines after one was found under the skin - but had to be removed.


How Spud would look if he could get rid of his skin condition
如果没有皮肤问题的话，这（上图）应该是它本来的样子


Hedgehogs rely on their spines, hollow hairs made stiff with keratin, for insulation and protection as they are the only animals in Britain immune to most predator attacks.
When under extreme stress or during sickness, they can sometimes lose spines and the ability to roll into a tight ball is compromised.