AN INJURED badger has been released back into the wild.

The animal, nicknamed Bojangles, was rescued after being found with numerous bite marks to his head neck and back.

After seven weeks of being cared for by the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) he has been let back into the wild in Portslade.

The badger was rescued the same night that WRAS volunteer and fundraiser Daryl Farmer crossed the Atlantic and was named after his boat.

Duty rescue co-ordinator Chris Riddington said: “He had some horrific wounds to the neck, head and mouth and WRAS’s founder Trevor Weeks came down and joined the casualty manager and I and we spent the evening cleaning and treating the poor creatures wounds.”

The next day the badger went to Henley House Vets in Uckfield to have an abscess and infected wounds better cleaned under sedation.

His head wound had exposed the skull, and the neck wounds needed suturing.

Trevor said: “This has to be one of the worse cases of territorial fighting of badgers I have ever seen.

“His injuries were quite serious but his determination and perseverance reminded us of Daryl and his row. Chris kept a close eye and he was given medication and regularly checked to ensure the wounds were healing.”

The badger was released safely back where he was found.