Quick Info - Fennec Fox

 

fee-nix fox

Scientific Name: Fennecus zarda, commonly known as the Fennec fox.

Biome: Desert, North of Africa.

Classification: Class Mammalia (mammals), Order Carnivore, Family Canidae.

Reproduction and Gestation: The gestation period for the Fennecus zarda is fifty days. Female Fennec foxes give birth once a year in late winter/early spring; a litter has one to five tiny, grey-skinned kits.

Diet: The Fennec fox is an omnivore (eating both meat and plants); it eats small animals, plant material, fruit and berries. At night, the Fennec fox eats insects, lizards, snails, small rodents, birds, and eggs. Like other foxes, the Fennec fox stores extra food in its underground den. The Fennec fox gets most of the water it needs from its food. It can go without water for a very long time. 

Lifespan: 10-12 years in the wild, 12- 16 years in captivity

Endangered? No

Description: The Fennec Fox is a small fox, with a long bushy tail. It had sharp curved claws and sharp teeth. The muzzle of this little fox it narrow and pointed. Its fur is sand coloured, buts its belly is white. The Fennec fox is around 60 cm long and weighs about 1.6 kilos.

Interesting Facts about Fennec Foxes …

·       A male fox is called a reynard, the female is called a vixen, and the baby is called a kit. A group of foxes is called a skulk or a leash.

·       Fennecs can be found purring like a cat when they are happy.

·       They are very social animals and live in colonies in the wild of up to 10 other foxes.

·       They are nocturnal, but do like to lie out in the sun

·       Some people keep Fennec foxes as pets!

Love Brid, the zoo tycoonest

Snow Leopards

Why are snow leopards special? Snow Leopards are one of the most beautiful and mystical wild cats. They have a proud bearing and people are drawn to their unusual white/gray colour. Snow leopards are also very elusive and few people have seen them in the wild. They are rare and endangered and live in some of the most extreme high altitude and cold climate on earth.

  

  

   Why are snow leopards endangered? The IUCN is an international organisation dedicated to conservation of animals and their habitat. It has listed snow leopards as endangered for many years. It is a sad fact that the biggest threat to snow leopards (like most other endangered animals) are humans.

   Humans have for centuries hunted them for their fur and their bones; fur to wear as coats and hats, and bones to be used in traditional medicines. Humans also destroy snow leopard habitat and food sources by killing the prey animals they need to feed on.

   When the natural wild prey animals are not available snow leopards will often kill and eat domestic livestock like sheep and goats belonging to villagers they share the mountains with. When this happens the villagers will in turn kill the snow leopard to protect their livestock, which is often the only resource standing between them and poverty.

Intriguing snow leopard facts – the big cat that doesn’t roar. Snow leopards can’t roar because of their different vocal chords. Most zoo keepers working with the snow leopard use the word “prusten” for the sound the cat makes. It’s a German word meaning to puff and to blow. It’s a soft sound snow leopards make to each other and sometimes to keepers. In the wild they use it to communicate when meeting for mating. Some people also call it “chuffing”.

I hope you found this information interesting!
Love Brid, the Zoo tycoonest

Asian Elephants: Did you know

Did you Know?

• The scientific name for the Asian Elephants Elephas maximus
• Elephant tusks are a modified form of upper incisors; the front teeth that many animals use for cutting food.
• The ears of the Asian Elephant assist in cooling the animal. Heat is circulated to blood vessels located close to the skin of the ears and is diffused into the air.
• The trunk of the Asian Elephant is used for feeding, watering, smelling, touching, communicating, lifting, dusting and fighting.
• The trunk of an Asian Elephant can hold up to 8.5L of water.

Love Brid, the zoo tycoonest