Fireball Fennec Fox at San Diego Zoo
September 08, 2014
The Children’s Zoo exhibit, of San Diego Zoo, has a dynamic new inhabitant, a three-month-old Fennec Fox cub!
Photo Credits: Ion Moe (Photos 1,3,5); Deric Wagner (Photos 2,3)
The new ball of energy weighs just less than 2 pounds. He will remain in quarantine for a while, but will soon begin training for his new position as Animal Ambassador for his species at the San Diego Zoo.
Animal Ambassadors serve an important role at the zoo. Their job is to help educate guests, especially children, by allowing them to get up close and learn even more about animals they wouldn’t normally have an opportunity with which to interact. This kind of intimate education encourages a vital interest and concern for species preservation.
Native to the Sahara of North Africa, the Fennec Fox is the smallest species of canid in the world. They are currently classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
The Fennec Fox is a popular pet, and is classified as “small wild/exotic canid” by the USDA. They also hold a place of importance in the African nation of Algeria. Not only are they the national animal, they also serve as the nickname for the Algerian national football team, “Les Fennecs.”