Meet the Animal Park's Fennec Foxes

Fennec foxes are native to the desert regions of North Africa, where they have developed a range of adaptations that help them survive in the harsh and extremely hot environment.

Diet

Fennec foxes are opportunistic omnivores with a varied diet. They mainly feed on insects such as grasshoppers and locusts, along with birds and small rodents. They seldom need to drink water directly because they can obtain much of the moisture they require by consuming fruits, leaves, and roots.

To avoid losing too much water during the hottest part of the day, fennecs remain inside their underground burrows and become active after nightfall when temperatures are cooler. They also store surplus food in hidden locations, allowing them to return to it when food becomes scarce.

Behavior

Fennec foxes are nocturnal predators that usually hunt alone. Their exceptional hearing allows them to locate prey largely through sound, even when the animals they are pursuing may be hidden beneath the sand.

These foxes are monogamous, with a bonded male and female forming a family group together with their young. A family unit may contain as many as 10 individuals. Such a group is commonly described as a "skulk" or a "leash."

Fascinating Facts

Fennec foxes are the smallest members of the canid family. Their body can reach approximately 16 inches in length, while their shoulder height is only about 8½ inches. Most adults weigh between 2 and 3 pounds.

Their enormous ears are one of their most recognizable features and can grow to around 6 inches long. These oversized ears serve several important purposes. They help release excess body heat, assist the foxes in finding prey moving beneath the sand, and allow them to distinguish subtle differences between the vocalizations of other fennecs.

Fennecs spend the hottest daylight hours inside underground burrows, which protect them from the intense desert sun. These shelters can develop into large and complicated networks of tunnels covering more than 1,000 square feet. Several entrances may be incorporated into a single burrow system, giving the foxes multiple escape routes if a predator approaches.

The burrows are commonly constructed beneath desert shrubs. The plants' roots help reinforce the tunnel walls and provide additional structural support. In some cases, more than one fennec family may occupy and share the same den system.