Zoo Gets New Baby Foxes As Part of Survival Program
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Zoo Gets New Baby Foxes As Part of Survival Program
The Memphis Zoo's bat-eared foxes, Raj and Helen, are now first time parents. Helen gave birth on May 25th inside Cat Country at the Memphis Zoo. This is a significant birth because it is part of a brand-new Species Survival Plan at the zoo. The parents were first put on exhibit at the zoo in February.
The three little babies, also called kits, could be seen on exhibit napping, playing and nursing this week under the watchful eyes of their parents. The male fox is called a dog; a female is a vixen. The sex of these babies has yet to be determined.
The African fox is known for its enormous ears, which are over 5 inches tall. Their ears help them hear insects moving around under the ground; termites, beetles and other insects make up most of their diet. It is estimated that they eat 1.15 million termites a year.
They typically weigh from 4-9 lbs. The gestation period is 60-70 days.
As the human populations have moved onto the land occupied by wildlife like the bat-eared fox, many animals are losing their living space to humans. They are also hunted for their pelts.
The Species Survival Plans manages the breeding of a species in order to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining population that is both genetically -diverse and demographically stable, according to Amanda Moses of the Memphis Zoo. The bat-eared foxes were just added to their program.
The foxes belong to the dog family. The foxes mate for life and the family may use several dens in the wild. Both parents care for the babies.
By Karen Pulfer Focht ©
July 2, 2020