Dunedin police are seeking any witnesses to an incident in which two boys apparently set fire to a hedgehog, killing it.
A person in Doon St, Mosgiel, reported the incident near the skatepark to police just after 10pm on Monday.
She told police she heard what sounded like fireworks and when she saw flames and heard squealing, went to see what was going on.
She found the burned, dead hedgehog, and saw two boys leaving on bicycles.
It was believed the boys were setting a spray from a can on fire with a lighter, Senior Sergeant Mel Aitken said.
Phil Soper, from the SPCA, said any act of cruelty like that to any animal was not OK.
"Especially if it's by children, it's not good. It's an offence under the Animal Welfare Act, and the police are investigating, so if they track them down, I hope they will look at [prosecution] under that."
There was no description of the boys. If anyone knew, or saw anything they should call police, Snr Sgt Aitken said.
