Hedgehog Instagram star goes camping in new outdoor photoshoot

Azuki the hedgehog went kayaking and had a cook-off on his wilderness break

Helen Coffey
Thursday 19 October 2017 15:48 BST
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Azuki is now an Instagram superstar
Azuki is now an Instagram superstar (Instagram/hedgehog_azuki)

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We all know that African Pygmy hedgehogs – the mini, domestic pets that have come to epitomise cuteness in the internet age – are at their best when clad in tiny outfits, kitted out with miniature props. They are what Instagram dreams are made of.

But occasionally one distinguishes themselves from the pack by kicking things up a level. One such dainty hog is Azuki, a Japanese pet whose owner has built him into an Instagram megastar with more than 200,000 followers to date.

Azuki spends much of his time “posing” (well, standing) while modelling hats, tiny lions’ manes and pumpkins, the latter in a nod to the autumn season. However, on his latest shoot, his usual urban style was swapped for an outdoorsy vibe as he embarked on a camping trip.

Photos show him peeking out of a tiny tent, gathering fire wood, sitting aboard a kayak and participating in a cook-off next to a river. The kayaking shot was a clear favourite, garnering Azuki more 19,000 likes and 500 comments (all a variation on, “So cute!”).

One can only imagine what hog and owner have in store for Halloween, Bonfire Night, Christmas and New Year.

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