Tagged: fox

Lantau rescue fox can’t find a home

The abandoned marble fox rescued in South Lantau three weeks ago can’t find a home.

The young male was discovered in a distressed state in the catchwater near Tong Fuk and sent to Ocean Park for care.

But Ocean Park has announced that it can’t keep the animal because it is incompatible with the other species in its care. Genetic tests  show the animal is a red fox. 

After taking numerous factors into consideration, the Park concludes that the fox is not compatible with Ocean Park’s current collection, including the Arctic foxes, and the park is unable to provide a suitable facility with the desired level of animal welfare standards for the fox in the long run,

Elaborating, the SPCA said in a Facebook post that as well as not meeting with Ocean Park’s animal policies, the park also lacked the facilities and staff resources and expertise to take care of the fox.

It said Kadoorie Farm also couldn’t accommodate it for similar reasons.

The animal will remain at Ocean Park while the SPCA, Ocean Park and the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department discuss its future.

But for now no one can suggest where it will find a permanent home.

Lantau rescue fox still under SPCA observation

The marble fox rescued from Lantau Friday night is still being monitored by the SPCA.

The fox, found in the catchwater near Tong Fuk, is eating well but “still very skinny,” a spokesperson told Lantau News.

The animal is a young male, still with his baby teeth, and is in a stable condition, the spokesperson said.

He is being monitored by vets at the SPCA’s Kowloon Centre for rabies and other diseases. The association couldn’t give an estimate on how long he had been wandering in South Lantau.

The fox, a domesticated breed and most likely abandoned by his owner, was discovered late Friday evening by a group on a snake safari and rescued by the fire department.

The SPCA said it is still in discussions with the AFCD, Kadoorie Farm and Ocean Park about where to place the young fox after it recovers.

UPDATE (July 22): The fox has been sent to Ocean Park.

Photo: Ivan Li

 

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Lantau fox in SPCA care after catchwater rescue

A marble fox found in the catchwater at Tong Fuk is being kept under observation by the SPCA.

The 50cm long fox, discovered in the catchwater late Friday night, was rescued by the Fire Department and put into the care of the SPCA. It had been in the area for at least two days.

The SPCA says the animal is at the Kowloon Centre where it is being monitored for signs of rabies or other disease. It says it hasn’t decided what to do with the animal, but may hand it to the Kadoorie Farm or Ocean Park, a spokesperson told told Apple Daily.

After an initial inspection the animal was found to be uninjured and basically healthy, but very thin, the association said. It was difficult to examine it closely because of its fear of humans. Its age and sex are still unclear.

Hungry (Photo: Ivan Li)

The marble fox is a domesticated breed, a combination of genetic manipulation of the red and Arctic foxes. It almost certainly has either been abandoned by its owners or has escaped from its home or from smugglers.

Ivan Li, who found the animal while on a nocturnal snake safari, said it was very thin and hungry and tried to feed it some bred. He believes it was left there by its owners. He criticised those who “abandon alien species” in Hong Kong.

Top photo: In the catchwater (Ivan Li)