Range[edit]
The Southern African Hedgehog is found throughout southern Africa, specifically in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.[1] There are two specific ranges of this hedgehog, a western range including Angola and Namibia and an eastern range, including South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Botswana.[8] The hedgehog as an individual, typically has a home range of 200–300 meters from the area it is living in which commonly is a hole in the ground. The resting places for hedgehogs changes almost daily. These hedgehogs typically live by themselves, except in the case of females rearing their young, for them, residency is more permanent for a period of time.[9]
Human Interactions[edit]
The Southern African Hedgehog is not a threat to humans; however, humans are a threat to the Southern African Hedgehog, especially because a lot of these hedgehogs are killed by vehicles.[1] In addition, people believe in some southern African cultures that smoke created from burning their spines and dried meat can keep spirits away. A possible medicinal purpose of the Southern African Hedgehog’s fat is that it is believed to cure earaches in children.[2] The hedgehog is also hunted by humans as a source of food.[10]
Living hedgehogs are useful to humans and many human practices are beneficial to hedgehogs. Many of these hedgehogs live in suburban gardens in areas of southern Africa where they are beneficial to humans through eating some of the pests that can hurt crops in peoples gardens.[2]
Additionally, another way to conserve hedgehogs is for conservation organizations to raise and breed them in captivity because they live up to 7 old, 4 years longer than their lifespan of 3 years in the wild.[2] In captivity,they are able to be treated for both pneumonia and ringworm, which are two medical problems that Southern African Hedgehogs typically face. In South Africa, it is illegal to keep indigenous hedgehogs without a permit.[1][dubious – discuss]