A Surrey-based animal charity are urging people to consider adopting a hedgehogs in a bid to help protect them amid drastic declines in their numbers nationwide.

Wildlife Aid Foundation (WAF), who are based in Leatherhead, recently posted a video online showing a worker care for several tiny orphaned hedgehogs the group had rescued as they urged supporters to join their Adopt a Hedgehog campaign.

"How cute are these thirsty orphaned hoglets! Help give a #hedgehog a second chance in the wild. ADOPT A HEDGEHOG TODAY," the post read.

WAF run a scheme much like those aimed at protecting other endangered species such as tigers or orangutans, whereby supporters can formally "adopt" a hedgehog by making a donation to the charity in exchange for a picture of the animal, information packs about them and so on.

The charity said that the money goes directly to the cause and argue that their work in supporting at risk hedgehogs directly helps protect the species. "When we rescue an individual hedgehog, we are not just giving that individual a second chance, but we are also working to safeguard the species," the charity say on their hedgehog adoption page.

To support the claim, WAF point out that hedgehog populations have declined a shocking 96 per cent in the last 60 years, largely due to habitat loss.

The Surrey Comet reported last year that the animals were declared "vulnerable" in the UK by the Mammal Society amid huge declines in native species populations worldwide that scientists have called the Sixth Mass Extinction.

Meanwhile Epsom and Ewell MP Chris Grayling voiced support for a national campaign to help the animals by listing them as a "protected" species.

WAF for its part said it treats "hundreds of injured and orphaned hedgehogs each year" and estimated that 200 young hedgehogs released back into the wild have the breeding potential to add 35,000 animals to wild populations within a decade.

"Wildlife Aid Foundation works seven days a week to give these animals a chance, but we cannot do it without support from the public.

"It costs us £1800 per day to run our hospital and rescue service and lockdown coincided with the busiest spring and summer we've ever seen. Our resources were stretch to capacity," CEO Simon Cowell said previously, asking the public for donations to keep their work going.

"As the figures released by the Mammal Society show, every single one of these endangered animals we can save will make a difference," he added.

Click here for more details on adopting a hedgehog.