The desert fox
The smallest member of the fox family (under 1.5 kg), the fennec is well-adapted to the sandy deserts where it lives. Its thick, light-coloured fur reflects the sun’s heat and protects it from the cold nights. The blood circulating in its large ears cools in contact with the air and it does not need to drink, making do with the water contained in its food! It is an opportunist omnivore, eating insects and other small creatures and eggs, fruit and leaves…
Though it is widely distributed, the fennec is becoming rarer in some areas, the victim of hunting (for its meat and its fur) and animal trafficking: it is a popular pet!
In La Barben, lives a couple, which had a first litter of 4 young in March 2019. You can observe them in their building or in their park. Keep an eye out, fennecs foxes can be discreet!