For those of you who don’t already know, the hedgehog is an actual wild animal and not just an adorable, spiky, attraction at Japanese cafes. It’s native to different parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa and it’s also nocturnal. Now that we’re all up to speed on general hedgehog knowledge, it’s important that you also know wild hedgehogs are endangered in the UK. And as a result, the town of Ipswich is seeking a “chief hedgehog officer” to be the face of hedgehog conservation.
Who wouldn’t want this job? If there’s any chance whatsoever that the Chief Hedgehog Officer gets to see these tiny sneezing hedgehog babies, this job is worthwhile. It was posted by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust in hopes of turning Ipswich into the most hedgehog-friendly area in the UK. The organization is seeking an inspirational individual who will use their knowledge of nature conservation and hedgehog ecology to reach their very admirable goal of hedgehog harmony. In other words, it’s a fairly niche opportunity, but if you work hard enough, it could probably be yours.
According to Mashable, the responsibilities of Ipswich’s next Chief Hedgehog Officer (CHO) will include creating a “street by street network of hedgehog accessible habitats and monitor hedgehog activity.” The CHO will also be tasked with removing barriers and fences between neighborhoods and gardens to allow optimal hedgehog movement, with the goal of establishing a network of feeding, nesting, and hibernation. Compensation for this dream job is about $31,000 a year and the commitment is a minimum of two years, so you may want to reconsider that Peace Corp application you just submitted.
(Via TIME)
