A hedgehog has died after it was allegedly thrown around by three schoolgirls who then buried the animal in a pot plant.
The animal, since sweetly named 'Hedgy', was brought to Haydock Hedgehog Helpers Rescue, based in Merseyside, on Monday evening, where he was given painkillers and placed in an incubator overnight.
But the group's head, Kelly, shared the upsetting news last night that Hedgy passed away.
Lancashire Police are now investigating the incident after locals claimed 'three girls around 10-12 years old were observed throwing the hedgehog down the slide and also throwing him up in the air dropping to the floor, before deciding to bury him alive'.
Two young boys were said to have seen the animal be allegedly thrown around by the 'year 7s' in the park by Greenhill Community Hub, who then alerted a parent who joined them in rescuing the animal.
His body has been sent to the vets for a report and they will hold on to Hedgy in case the RSPCA want to examine him, Kelly told concerned locals.
She added that she believed the animal was already unwell before the alleged attack due to Hedgy's temperature and a flystrike (a fatal condition where flies lay eggs on a sick or injured hedgehog) near his tail when he was brought in.
She said: 'Instead of finding kind humans to help him, he was instead thrown around like a toy.
A hedgehog has died after it was allegedly thrown around by three schoolgirls who then buried that animal in pot plant
'What's even worse is that if he was very unwell, he would not have been able to curl into a ball to defend himself.
'Spines also work as shock absorbers when they curl up, and without this protection who knows what damage these girls have caused.'
She added: 'I'm beyond outraged, heartbroken, and disgusted by the actions of those girls.'
Kelly has since shared that 'a number of individuals have been identified and are actively cooperating with the police'.
Following backlash against the children on social media, Kelly said: 'While emotions are understandably high, we must not respond with hatred, threats, or online abuse - especially when children are involved.
'Whatever the circumstances may ultimately prove to be, intimidation, public shaming, and hateful comments do not help animals, do not help the investigation, and do not help our community.
'No child is shaped into a better person through fear or public humiliation, but through guidance, accountability, compassion, and love.'
'We must allow the appropriate people to deal with it properly, and as a community, begin to move forward constructively and compassionately.
'If there is one positive thing that can come from this tragic situation, I hope it is a wider conversation about teaching children empathy, respect for wildlife, and the importance of kindness toward all living creatures.'
Lancashire Police told the Daily Mail: 'Our South Rural Task Force are investigating the incident and if anyone has any information about what happened, please contact South Rural Task Force at SouthRTF@lancashire.police.uk or 253@lancashire.police.uk.'
Hedgehogs are considered vulnerable to extinction in the UK and in recent years have been declining in population, according to reports from conservation groups.