Bulletin 10 - March 1980: Red Foxes

Red Foxes

By P. Dickinson and C. Furley*

Six Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes arabica) were snared and measured at Al Ain Zoo during December and January before release. The following results were obtained:

Date	Sex	Weight	Nose-tail	Shoulder	Hindfoot	Ear length	Ear width
17.12.79	M	8 lb.	985mm	370mm	140mm	110mm	70mm
18.12.79	M	8.5 lb.	980mm	360mm	130mm	100mm	75mm
20.12.79	M	7 lb.	940mm	375mm	132mm	104mm	80mm
9.1.80	F	7 lb.	955mm	348mm	126mm	105mm	85mm
11.1.80	M	8 lb., 2 oz	930mm	350mm	135mm	105mm	82mm
26.1.80	F	9 lb., 7 oz	935mm	370mm	135mm	105mm	85mm

In addition, fecal samples were obtained from each fox and the proglottids of a cestode were demonstrated in all samples. The intermediate host for this tapeworm may become easier to determine when the tapeworm is identified. Maggots were also found in three out of the five foxes, indicating that the consumption of carrion was likely, and that this source of food material may well be important in maintaining the Red Fox population in this area. The remains of undigested feathers, together with the maggots, was interesting as this feature may possibly mean that it is the population of pigeons and doves, etc., and not small mammals upon which the foxes rely. Further research is necessary. All the foxes were caught at night as they tried to enter the zoo grounds.

The authors would be very interested to hear of any other captured carnivores in the UAE.

* Peter Dickinson is Zoological Curator and Chris Furley veterinarian at Al Ain Zoo.