SEGA Partners with PTES to Highlight Hedgehog Conservation with Sonic Colours Release
With the launch of the latest Sonic the Hedgehog title, Sonic Colours, SEGA has forged an impactful partnership with the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) to bring attention to the declining population of real-life hedgehogs in Britain.
As one of SEGA’s oldest and most iconic video game characters, Sonic the Hedgehog has long captured the hearts of players on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and eShop.
This unique initiative leverages Sonic’s popularity to advocate for the conservation of his namesake in the natural world. According to PTES and recent conservation reports, Britain’s hedgehog population has experienced a sharp decline, with only about one million hedgehogs estimated to remain in the country.
Alarmingly, close to 50,000 hedgehogs are believed to be killed on Britain’s roads each year, and modern farming methods have increasingly destroyed their rural habitats.
This downward trend has been most significant in Wales, as well as parts of Scotland and the East of England. In a bid to raise public awareness, SEGA and PTES organized a hedgehog-inspired road crossing in Twickenham, south-west London.
The event coincided with the highly anticipated release of Sonic Colours, which continues the legacy of Sonic on modern gaming platforms such as the Nintendo Switch.
During the event, four live hedgehogs participated in testing the specially designed crossing, illustrating the importance of such measures in protecting the species in urban areas. Trevor Smith, handler of the hedgehogs at the event, explained, “Our hedgehogs visibly enjoyed their day with the dedicated crossing.
This initiative is a step forward in encouraging everyone to take action to ensure the survival of hedgehogs in Britain for future generations.” Anna Downing, Senior Product Manager at SEGA, also commented on the campaign, stating, “Hedgehogs are a vital part of Britain’s wildlife.
With Sonic the Hedgehog being a household name, we felt he was the ideal ambassador to help spotlight the real-life challenges facing his species.” The campaign represents a growing trend among major game developers and publishers to leverage their well-known properties for social and environmental causes.
SEGA’s collaboration with PTES not only underscores the company’s commitment to wildlife awareness but also demonstrates how video game culture can positively influence conservation efforts.
By aligning the launch of Sonic Colours with proactive conservation advocacy, SEGA reinforces the connection between gaming communities and broader social responsibility. Sonic Colours is now available for the Nintendo Switch and other platforms.
For more information on the hedgehog conservation efforts and how to support them, visit the People’s Trust for Endangered Species official website or the Sonic the Hedgehog eShop page.
As one of SEGA’s oldest and most iconic video game characters, Sonic the Hedgehog has long captured the hearts of players on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and eShop.
This unique initiative leverages Sonic’s popularity to advocate for the conservation of his namesake in the natural world. According to PTES and recent conservation reports, Britain’s hedgehog population has experienced a sharp decline, with only about one million hedgehogs estimated to remain in the country.
Alarmingly, close to 50,000 hedgehogs are believed to be killed on Britain’s roads each year, and modern farming methods have increasingly destroyed their rural habitats.
This downward trend has been most significant in Wales, as well as parts of Scotland and the East of England. In a bid to raise public awareness, SEGA and PTES organized a hedgehog-inspired road crossing in Twickenham, south-west London.
The event coincided with the highly anticipated release of Sonic Colours, which continues the legacy of Sonic on modern gaming platforms such as the Nintendo Switch.
During the event, four live hedgehogs participated in testing the specially designed crossing, illustrating the importance of such measures in protecting the species in urban areas. Trevor Smith, handler of the hedgehogs at the event, explained, “Our hedgehogs visibly enjoyed their day with the dedicated crossing.
This initiative is a step forward in encouraging everyone to take action to ensure the survival of hedgehogs in Britain for future generations.” Anna Downing, Senior Product Manager at SEGA, also commented on the campaign, stating, “Hedgehogs are a vital part of Britain’s wildlife.
With Sonic the Hedgehog being a household name, we felt he was the ideal ambassador to help spotlight the real-life challenges facing his species.” The campaign represents a growing trend among major game developers and publishers to leverage their well-known properties for social and environmental causes.
SEGA’s collaboration with PTES not only underscores the company’s commitment to wildlife awareness but also demonstrates how video game culture can positively influence conservation efforts.
By aligning the launch of Sonic Colours with proactive conservation advocacy, SEGA reinforces the connection between gaming communities and broader social responsibility. Sonic Colours is now available for the Nintendo Switch and other platforms.
For more information on the hedgehog conservation efforts and how to support them, visit the People’s Trust for Endangered Species official website or the Sonic the Hedgehog eShop page.
