Fenech keeping at home. The fennec fox is the cutest pet

The miniature fennec fox is increasingly becoming a pet. Despite the high cost of fennecs, more and more people want to acquire this funny big-eared animal. Why, besides its exoticism, is fennec so attractive, and what conditions are necessary for its maintenance?

Miniature fennec fox

What is good about a hand-made fennec

The ease of taming, docile nature and small size make it possible to successfully keep the fennec cat in an apartment along with familiar pets.

This fox is smaller than a cat, its weight rarely exceeds 1.5 kg, and its body length is 40 cm (an adult is shown in the photo below). With such a modest size, her fifteen-centimeter ears seem even longer. Nature did not deprive the fennec of a tail, like all foxes - it is the same length as the body.

Large, curious eyes make the animal's sharp muzzle very cute. The animal's fur is thick and soft, pleasant to the touch. Fenech is affectionate and loves communication.

Domestic fox

Foxes are active and playful, love to run, and are excellent long and high jumpers. Fenechs combine almost cat-like agility with canine “talkativeness”: they are able to nimbly jump onto bedside tables and window sills, and their arsenal of sounds includes barking, whining, snorting, grumbling and even howling.

There are no problems with nutrition; the domestic fennec fox can be fed:

Meat;
Eggs;
Fish;
Vegetables and fruits.

You can also train a fennec cat to use a litter box, just like a cat.

Difficulties of maintenance

The high activity of this animal can disturb the owner at night. The desire to dig - and fennecs are excellent at digging holes - sometimes costs the owner of a sofa or rug.

Fenechs dig holes in deserts

Therefore, it is necessary to purchase for the fox big cage or an aviary, place her in a separate room, provide a large number toys for chewing and playing, as well as walking outside whenever possible, allowing them to run around as much as possible.

Fenechs are very timid; they should not be stressed, shouted at, or made sudden movements in their presence.

They also get cold easily, so the room where the chanterelles are kept should always be warm and dry.

Buying chanterelles

It is quite difficult to buy a fennec fox; it is a rare animal, exotic for our region.

Baby foxes

It is better, of course, to contact the nearest nursery, but you can also search through advertisements on Avito; many people breed chanterelles at home, because the business is quite profitable - you will have to pay about 60,000 rubles for a baby. But the price does not depend on the quality of the animal, as in the example

This animal is cute and attractive in appearance, like all foxes. Despite the fact that they are predators, one cannot help but be touched by their fluffiness, cute pointed faces, and gentle habits. The desert fox also has huge ears, which give its image additional charm, which will definitely not leave indifferent those who see it for the first time. Interestingly, the name of this animal “fenech” is translated from Arabic and means “fox”.

These animals live in deserts North Africa and They are national symbol Algeria and are depicted on one of the coins of this country. long eared fox The desert is small in size. At the withers it reaches 18-22 centimeters and weighs only 1.5 kilograms. The ears seem gigantic compared to the head and reach 15 centimeters in length.

Habitat

The desert fennec fox is perfectly adapted to living in the desert. In order to walk on the sand without fear of getting burned, the feet of her paws are overgrown with fur. There is fur on the back and white on the tummy. This allows you to camouflage yourself among the dull and monotonously colored desert landscape. Ears, like locators, allow you to hear the rustle of even the smallest vertebrate or insect, which the desert fox eats, although it does not disdain the roots and fruits of plants, eggs, and carrion as food. In addition, these hearing organs help to establish thermoregulation in extremely hot living conditions of the animal.

How does it handle the heat?

No, she doesn’t fan herself with them to escape the heat. Through their thin skin, blood vessels are visible, which are adapted to remove excess heat from the fox’s body. Internal structure The animal is also adapted to such a life. The desert fox is able to eat only dry food and go without water for a long time; for this, its kidneys work in a special way to retain as much moisture as possible inside the body. The fennec fox does not have sweat glands.

Fox song

In the desert you can often hear the sounds these animals make. And they are very diverse. Sometimes there is barking, howling, whining, growling, and sometimes something similar to crying or squealing. Fenechs repeat their “songs” many times. Unlike other representatives of the fox genus, these individuals do not live alone, but in groups, which include married couple and her cubs different ages. They dig holes in the sand with many secret passages. Looking at the charming fluffies, it is difficult to say that they guard their territory very sternly and are ready to defend it in battle. So that no one doubts that this is their area, these animals mark it with feces and urine. The dominant male leaves the most excrement.

More comfortable at night

On the surface, the desert fennec fox stays in the shade of bushes or grass thickets. But they rarely come out of their holes. Mostly hiding from bright sun and walk only at dusk. To catch prey, these babies are capable of excellent high and long jumps. In addition, the desert fox is a very intelligent animal. For example, in order to break an egg with a strong shell that cannot be cracked, the fennec quickly rolls it onto a stone, on which it breaks. Interestingly, these foxes play various games with each other. It is very interesting to watch them, as they often come up with something new.

Fluffy babes

An adult fox is extremely cute, and what can we say about her cubs! These babies, whose cuteness is simply limitless, are born in March-April, after the mating season ends, which begins in January. Pregnancy in fennec cats lasts 50 days. Tiny fox cubs weigh only 50 grams when born. The mother does not leave the hole until they open their eyes; all this time the family is fed by the male, who is temporarily not allowed near the children. When babies are 5 weeks old, they begin to leave the den, and at 3 months they travel long distances. These nimble animals are almost not afraid of anyone. They are able to evade both caracals and eagle owls who want to catch them. But man turns out to be more cunning than the beast.

Affectionate pets

The desert fennec fox is, of course, very cute as a pet. But often owners forget that this is a creature of wild nature. And although he can be tamed, he needs to create living conditions close to nature, because the Fennec’s instincts do not disappear even when close to a person. The fox needs a hole as a home, and the air temperature in the room should be high, since the fenech is used to living in a hot desert. Those who decide to purchase a “living toy” should remember that it is very expensive (the minimum price today is 65,000-70,000 rubles) and requires a lot of care. IN good hands The animal will live, as in nature, about 12 years. These foxes become attached to their owner, affectionate and playful. They should be fed meat, eggs, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. You can also give grain or fish.

Difficulties of maintenance

The owner needs to know that the desert fox sleeps during the day and begins to lead an active lifestyle at night. If you keep it not in an enclosure, but simply in a room, then all the things that are there will be spoiled, since the fennec will gnaw everything, try to dig holes, tear the upholstery of the sofa and armchairs. Trying to chew electrical wires is especially dangerous for a fox. It is imperative to keep your pet warm, since, having caught a cold, the desert fox dies, and it is not possible to cure it.

But is it worth getting a “living toy” for your own entertainment? Maybe it's better to leave desert chanterelles in the distant desert, next to his own family?

Fenech (lat. Vulpeszerda) is a small animal from the genus, family Canidae, order Carnivora, class Mammals. Previously, this view had a slightly different appearance systematic position, he was allocated to a separate genus Fenech (lat. Fennecus) with only one view Fennecuszerda, however, subsequently the similarities with other foxes were recognized as stronger than the differences, and the genus was united.

International scientific name:Vulpeszerda(Zimmermann, 1780)

Synonyms:

Canis cerdo Gmelin, 1788

Canis fennecus Lesson, 1827

Fennecus arabicus Desmarest, 1804

Fennecus brucei Desmarest, 1820

Fennecus zerda(Zimmermann, 1780)

Megalotis Cerda Illiger, 1811

Viverra aurita F. A. A. Meyer, 1793

Vulpes denhamii Boitard, 1842

Vulpes saarensis Skjoldebrand, 1777

Vulpes zaarensis Gray 1843

English name: Fennec fox.

German name: Fennec, Wüstenfuchs.

Security status: The fennec is listed as a species of least concern in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (version 3.1). This fox is quite widespread, but its exact numbers are unknown.

Etymology of the name

The name “fenech” came to European languages from the Arabs: fanak in one of the Arabic dialects it simply means “fox”. It’s more interesting to figure out where the species name came from zerda. According to one version, this word comes from the Greek xeros, which means “dry” - a hint that fennec lives in the desert. According to another version, this word also came from Arabic or the Berber language. Brem writes: “The Moors call it “cerda,” and the Arabs call it “fenech.” Arabic zerdāwa, in turn, could come from Farsi or one of the African languages. This word refers to the yellowish color of the animal.

Fenech: description and photo. What does this fox look like?

Fenech is the smallest representative of the family. The dimensions of the beast have been studied in sufficient detail, and they differ somewhat in different parts range. On average, the height at the withers of an adult animal is up to 22 cm, the body length is 30-41 cm, the length of the tail can reach 30 cm, that is, the size of the fennec's tail is only slightly smaller than the size of its body.

In West and North Africa average length the body of a small fox including the head is 36.2 cm (from 33.3 to 39.5 cm), tail length is 16.9 cm (12.5 - 18.7 cm); ear size – 9.1 cm (8.6 – 9.7 cm).

In Egypt, fennecs are slightly larger: the length of the body and head is 36.8 cm (33.7–38.7); tail length – 20.6 cm (18.6–23.0); ear dimensions – 9.6 cm (8.8–10.4).

The male and female, which emerged from parents caught in northern Africa, have the following dimensions: body length is 40.2 and 39.0 cm, respectively; tail length – 21.4 and 20.2 cm; ear sizes – 11.0 and 9.2 cm.

The weight of a fennec fox does not exceed one and a half kilograms - this small fox is even smaller in size. The average weight of African fennec cats from Egypt is 1.05 kg (from 0.8 to 1.15).

But the main thing distinctive feature The fennec cat is by no means miniature in size and has a long fluffy tail. His " business card" - huge ears that allow you to pick up the most insignificant sound vibrations produced by insects and small animals, its main prey. They can be more than 10 cm in length - for this small animal This is an impressive size! In terms of the relative size of the ears to the width of the head, fennecs take first place among all representatives of the order Carnivora. In addition to the fact that the fennec's ears are highly sensitive locators, they are of considerable importance in thermoregulation, allowing the body to cool even in Saharan conditions.

The rest of this miniature fox's features are more standard. Fennec foxes have a short, pointed muzzle and big eyes. The pupil is round, surrounded by a brown iris.

The teeth are small, even the fangs are not particularly noticeable in size. Long whiskers stick out on its muzzle, helping the animal navigate in space.

The fennec cat's body is slender, slightly elongated, its legs are thin, its paws are pubescent. The fur is thick, yellowish-reddish in color, allowing it to hide in the sand. The fennec cat has a white belly and a black-tipped tail.

The supra-caudal gland is covered with dark hair. Young animals are at first very light, almost white, and only then darken. Adult and elderly fennecs begin to lighten again.

Fennec foxes are quite easy to distinguish from other species of foxes living in these places:

compared to the sand fox (V. rueppelli) it is smaller, the fennec fur is not so bright, long and thick, the tail is shorter, and the tip of the tail is not white, but black;
African fox (V. pallida) also larger than the fennec, and the fur on the back and sides has a blackish tint;
with an Afghan fox (V. cana) Fenech does not live in one territory; The Afghan fox has a longer tail, shorter ears, and is larger.

Fenech is a very active and agile fox, which allows it to hunt birds, insects and nimble animals. Her ability to jump high – up to 70 cm – also helps her. Thanks huge ears Fennecs have very sensitive hearing, which is what they mainly use when hunting. They also have a well-developed sense of smell and night vision.

Fennec cats make a variety of sounds, including barks and yelps, menacing growls and purrs similar to those made by a cat. Brem writes that fennecs emit “a quiet squeal that is difficult to describe,” and Akimushkin writes that “his cry is not animal, but some kind of dry frog chatter.”

The fennec also readily preys on birds (steppe lark, hazel grouse), their chicks and eggs. The fox also eats carrion.

Fenech also does not disdain plant foods. Miniature foxes visit date palms to feast on the fruits; they eat watermelons, berries, and plant roots.

The fennec comes out to hunt in the evening, when the sun sets and the desert becomes cooler. The dwarf fox hunts and feeds alone - this makes it easier to catch small prey. Sensitive ears help her hear the movement of insects even underground. If the prey is close to the surface, it digs through the ground very quickly. Hearing the barely noticeable sounds made by jerboas, lizards or steppe larks, the fennec creeps up to them, then jumps - and the trembling victim is in his teeth.

“Mousing” (a characteristic upward jump), common to other foxes, was not observed in the fennec fox. These representatives of the genus Vulpes capable of killing prey larger size than themselves, but they start eating it from the head. What is not eaten is hidden (usually buried) and can be eaten later when the hunt is unsuccessful.

If there is a watering hole near the hole, the fenech visits it regularly. But the animal can do without water for quite a long time, being content with the liquid that comes with fruit juices and animal food. His kidneys are well adapted to conserve water and produce very concentrated urine. Water evaporation is also reduced: there are no sweat glands on the fox's skin, and body temperature is regulated so that moisture loss is minimal.

By the way, the fennec is the only representative of the Carnivora order that is able to live permanently away from a watering hole.

Where does fennec live?

The bat-eared fox lives on the African continent and is widely found in sandy deserts and semi-deserts of North Africa and Sinai; distributed throughout the Sahara Desert. In the south, encounters with it were recorded up to 14°N. This miniature fox can be found in Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco (including Southern Sahara), Niger, Sudan and Tunisia. In Russia, fennec fox can only be found in captivity - our climate is too cool for it.

Fennec fox is a typical desert and steppe fox. Its habitat is the zone of deserts, semi-deserts and steppes. These are vast spaces covered with sand and stones, with sparse vegetation and rare meager precipitation (from 100 to 300 mm per year). The ideal landscape for the light fennec fennec is sand dunes, where the animals are the only canids.

The predominant herbaceous plants in such places are triocerium ( Aristidaspp), satiate ( Cyperusspp), bushes – Ephedraalata or C ornulaca monacanth. In small sand dunes they can live among vegetation such as fat wheat ( Triticum turgidum) and parnofolia ( Zygophyllum spp.), as well as rare acacias, occasionally meeting there with such canids as the sand fox and the common jackal. Fenech is a sedentary animal, and with the change of seasons it does not change its habitat.

The number of fennec cats in the wild

The status of the animal in the IUCN Red Book (rev. 3.1) is of least concern. Its numbers have never been accurately estimated. Judging by the frequency of occurrence of the beast and the number of animals caught by local residents, their number is significant, and the population is in a stable condition. About 300 fennec cats are kept in zoos around the world.

There are currently no serious reasons for a possible decline in numbers, not least because fennecs live in inaccessible and unattractive areas of Africa for development. However, the areas around the Sahara and other arid regions are beginning to be developed by humans. Construction of new roads and new settlements increase risks for some populations of these foxes.

Additional pressure is created by geological exploration, development oil fields and development of commercial transport. Thus, in the area of four new settlements in southern Morocco, fennecs disappeared.

The developed road network also creates direct risks. Fennec foxes are hunted for their fur, and miniature foxes are caught by local residents for sale.

Fennec cat lifestyle

Fenech leads predominantly night look life. Lives like other members of the genus Vulpes, in burrows. The fennec digs extensive shelters with deep passages on its own, quickly and skillfully. During the night, the animal can dig a passage 5-6 m long. Housing for family group as a result, it is a system of passages and chambers with several exits to the surface, which allow you to hide from danger.

In addition to the large main burrow, fennecs sometimes dig small underground shelters in their area. During the day, the fennec sits in the nesting chamber, lined with dry grass, feathers and wool. When dusk comes, he climbs to the surface, goes to a watering hole or begins hunting. The nocturnal lifestyle is an adaptation of the fennec to its habitat.

Fennecs are not loners; they live in large family groups, usually consisting of up to 10 individuals. As a rule, this is a founding couple (male and female) and their offspring.

Puppies from previous litters can stay with their parents and take part in raising younger foxes. Such an extended family is found among representatives of the genus Vulpes. Sometimes there are burrows of several families nearby, and their representatives often call each other.

The “dictionary” of the fennec cat is very diverse: it includes different types sounds that the animal uses when communicating.

Fenech cats have developed play behavior; even adults willingly play with puppies and among themselves. They often rest in contact with each other.

Friendly social displays usually include tail wagging, crouching, wallowing, and yelping. Males may show some aggressiveness and increased marking activity during estrus (estrus) of females. Despite such sociability, fennecs prefer to hunt alone: this is probably more effective in hunting small animals and birds.

Fennec foxes are strictly territorial animals. Each family has a separate plot with internal structure: there is a core located around the hole where animals spend large number time, there are other frequently visited places, and there are those where foxes appear less often. The boundaries of the area are marked with scent marks: these are secretions of special glands, urine, excrement. Usually prominent objects are marked: hummocks, clumps of grass, bushes. As a rule, the main male is engaged in walking around the territory and marking, but other members of the family group also contribute to the protection of the borders.

Classification

Fennec ( Vulpeszerda)– monotypic species. There are no subspecies identified in it. Hybrids with other species were also not observed.

Reproduction

Fennec cats reach sexual maturity at approximately 6-9 months, and the first mating occurs at the age of 9 months to a year. Fennecs are monogamous, permanent pairs last for several breeding seasons.

The mating season of the animals begins in January-February. The female's estrus (estrus) is very short: 1-2 days, the pre-estrus period (proestrus) is mainly expressed in swelling of the vulva (external genitalia) and is also short-lived. The activity of the testes in males is synchronized with the cycle of females: their productivity is maximum when the female is in estrus, then decreases.

Courtship behavior during the mating season in fennec fennecs has been better studied in captivity, since observations in natural conditions(in the desert at night) is extremely difficult to organize. A typical ritual preceding mating consists of noisy flirtations and usually lasts from one to one and a half days. Mating lasts more than an hour, sometimes several times with an interval of several hours.

Data on crossing vary: some sources say that it occurs quite rarely, others say that it occurs frequently and can take up to 165 minutes. In nature, social mechanisms prevent inbreeding, but in captivity fennecs of both sexes can mate with their own offspring.

Inbreeding is inbreeding.

Pregnancy in fennec cats usually lasts 50-52 days, although there is evidence from zoos of successful births after 62- and 63-day pregnancies. IN wildlife puppies are usually born in March-April. In captivity, mating, pregnancy and birth can occur at any time of the year.

However, even in captivity, most pups are born between March and July. Fennecs give birth to one litter per year, but if it is lost, the female may come into heat and become pregnant again. Thus, fenechs cannot be called truly monoestrous animals.

Monoestrous are animals that come into heat once per season.

Before, during and after birth, the male protects the hole, but does not enter the nesting chamber: the female at this time is aggressive and selflessly protects the cubs. A female usually gives birth to two to five blind, fur-covered puppies weighing 40-45 g (however, litters with one or six cubs are less common).

The length of the body and head of a one-day-old puppy is 10-12 cm, the length of the tail is 4 cm, the length of the ear is 1 cm. After 8-11 days, the fennec fox opens its eyes, and its weight doubles after 11-12 days. After two weeks, the baby is already able to move, however, it does not immediately leave the hole.

Until the puppies are 4 weeks old, the male actively defends the area near the burrow and brings prey. At this time, the fennec cubs begin to emerge from the hole, first for a short time, then for more and more long time. By the middle of the 3rd week, milk feeding is also transferred outside. At this time, the babies are teething, and for the first time they try adult food that the male brings them. After the 4th week, the male brings more and more food to the puppies and female, and meat begins to occupy a significant place in the diet of small fennec cats, although feeding with milk continues until 60-70 days.

The simplest hunting behavior appears approximately 7 weeks after birth, as it learns it becomes more complex and skillful, but until 13 weeks the male brings prey to the burrow. Only at the age of 3 months do puppies begin to move away from the hole, first together with their parents, and then alone. Fenechs reach sexual and physiological maturity at 9-11 months.

In the sandy deserts of northern Africa lives the miniature fennec fox (lat. Fennecus zerda). The weight of the animal is quite small - about 1.5 kg, and the animal is not very tall either. But what attracts attention to this fox are her ears. Occupying almost a third of the size of the animal’s entire body, they perfectly capture even the smallest rustles. It is thanks to its ears that the fenech hunts very successfully in the dark.

Fenech - description, appearance

The fennec fox has a very modest size; this fox is the smallest representative of its family. The length of its body does not exceed 35 cm, and males are usually even smaller - up to 30 cm, the tail of the animal is approximately the same size - 25-30 cm. Height at the withers is 18-22 cm - this is less than that of an ordinary domestic cat. The ears of the desert fennec fox look disproportionate to the body and are 15 cm long.

The muzzle is pointed, which is typical for all foxes, but shorter. The fennec cat's eyes are large and expressive and stand out well on the head. Ears have large size not only to capture sounds, but also to cool the animal’s body during hot times of the day. This occurs due to small blood vessels that are very close to the surface of the inside of the ears. Despite the fact that the fennec is a predator, its teeth are small. Small fangs are especially unusual.

The animals' paws are adapted to desert conditions. The foot is heavily pubescent, and this helps the desert fennec fox move without problems during the day on hot sand. In general, this wool small predator soft and thick. The color helps to camouflage: the animals are light red or fawn on top, the color of sand, and the belly fur is colored white. There is a tuft of black hair at the tip of the tail. The fennec fox, whose fur has not yet changed to that of an adult, is almost completely white.

In nature, animals live not so short - about 15 years. But in captivity, this period can be extended for another 3-4 years due to comfortable conditions and an abundance of food.

The fennec fox's desert forest habitat is not that large compared to other foxes that live on almost all continents. The largest populations of these animals are found in the Sahara Desert - from Morocco to Niger and Chad.

Unlike most fox species, fennec foxes are accustomed to living in small groups, although they still hunt alone. In desert areas, they look for areas with dense thickets of grass or shrubs in order to build a hole there, hidden from prying eyes. In the absence of such a site, they also settle in open areas, making long and intricate underground passages.

In case of sudden danger, desert fennec foxes can hide in someone else's suitable hole. There are enough such shelters in their habitat, so prey for more large predators Fennecs become extremely rare.

Under natural conditions, these chanterelles easily find food for themselves. And this is not accidental, since, despite the order to which they belong - predators - fennecs do not disdain other food. In addition to small rodents, chicks, lizards and some insects, desert fennec foxes feed on berries and plants that can be obtained in arid regions.

Fennec cat lifestyle

Fenechs are predominantly nocturnal, only emerging from their burrows during the day when absolutely necessary. Little foxes are very sociable creatures and easily live alongside their own kind. There are usually about 10 individuals in a “family”: an adult couple, their offspring and several fox cubs from the previous litter. They actively communicate with each other not only using body language, but also make numerous sounds - barking, howling, grumbling, etc.

The fennec fox obtains its food from sand or earth. Fortunately, their paws are adapted for this - although small, they have developed muscles. Since these foxes are nocturnal animals, their vision is adapted to seeing in the dark.

Living in arid regions has made fennecs get used to this - they for a long time can do without water at all, extracting moisture from meat, fruits and leaves.

Fennec as a pet

Nowadays, having exotic animals at home is very fashionable. However, the domestic fennec fox is not a case where problems with keeping the animal at home will not arise. Future owners should remember that these foxes are nocturnal, so sleeping with a fennec fox at your side will be problematic. In addition, foxes themselves have a pungent odor, and if they are not trained to use a litter tray (which is quite difficult), then there will always be foxes in the house. bad smell. To prevent the fennec fox from causing a lot of trouble, you need to train it like a dog. But foxes are wild animals, and it takes a very long time to learn even the simplest commands.

The habit of the desert fennec fox to dig holes for itself brings many difficulties to its maintenance. You will have to purchase a large cage for the animal or even allocate an entire room. Cover the floor with a thick layer of sand to make the animal feel more comfortable.

The temperature in the apartment should be close to the air temperature in the desert, that is, higher than usual. There should be no drafts, and desert fennec foxes are sensitive to even a slight drop. At home, they often die precisely because of a common cold.

The fennec animal is a dwarf fox whose natural habitat is the African desert. Lovers of unusual pets keep big-eared fox at home. Thanks to its small size, it easily gets along even in a city apartment, but requires proper care. In size, the little fox is inferior even to a domestic cat.

Cost per pet fox Fenech starts from 25,000 rubles. She gets along well in a warm house and does not cause much trouble for the owner. So how to care for a fennec fox at home and what to feed it?

Features of the fennec fox

The dimensions of the dwarf fox are as follows:

height - about 20 cm;
body length - approximately 40 cm;
weight - only 1.5 kg.

The muzzle is short and sharp, and the eyes and ears are large in proportion to the size of the head. Ear length - about 15 cm. natural environment habitat, the ears help the fennec cat to hunt insects and lizards. During the hot season, heat is lost through the ears. In the dark, the fennec cat's eyes glow red as she the retina is specific and designed for night hunting.

The fur of the big-eared fox is thick, and the color blends with environment(the back is red and the belly is white). The tail is dark and slightly fluffy at the tip. Main feature dwarf fox is considered her jumping ability. She can jump a meter forward and 70 cm in height, making her an unrivaled hunter. The big-eared fox goes hunting at night, and during the day it hides from the scorching desert sun in holes that it digs itself. In one night, a fennec can even dig for itself six-meter hole. Foxes make several branches underground so that in case of danger they can quickly hide from the enemy.

The big-eared fox is omnivorous and sometimes digs up food even from underground. It feeds mainly on lizards, insects and eggs. There are also root vegetables and carrion. It tolerates thirst well and compensates for the lack of water with liquid contained in food. Sometimes stocks up.

Fennecs live large families- up to 10 individuals, where 2 are parents and the rest are cubs of different generations. Over time, the foxes are divided into several small families, and communicate with each other using an unusual set of sounds.

Gallery: fennec fox (25 photos)

Natural habitat

This unusual animal is most common in the central part of the Sahara Desert. The fox also lives in Algeria, Libya and Egypt. The big-eared fox can also be found in Niger, Mauritania and Tunisia.

The animal prefers to live in hot deserts, hiding from possible ill-wishers and the scorching sun in thickets of dry grass and bushes. In nature, the fennec prefers to live away from people, and if a person settles nearby, then she quickly changes her place of residence, going further away.

Reproduction and lifespan

Foxes have offspring once a year. For the second time in a year, babies can be born only if the babies from the first batch died. Mating games foxes begin to estrus in mid-winter, but females' estrus lasts only 2 days. Fennec cats are monogamous and form pairs for a long time.

Each pair of individuals assigns a separate area to itself. During the first few weeks, males are aggressive and actively mark their territory. Females signal to males that they are ready to mate by sharply moving their tails to the side.

Females carry their cubs for about 2 months.. With the onset of spring or a little later, about 6 newborn fennec foxes are born. Babies are born helpless and blind. Their weight is only 50 grams, and their body is covered with a small cream-colored fluff. Their eyes open a couple of weeks after birth. The initially folded ears unfold and stand upright. Ears grow very rapidly and soon after the birth of the cubs, they acquire a full-fledged appearance.

From newborn babies, right up to the eruption of their eyes, the female does not leave a single step. A caring mother fox does not allow even the male to approach her cubs. The female is extremely aggressive and the male only pushes food into her hole without entering it.

Month-old fox cubs emerge from the burrow and begin to explore the surrounding area. At first they do not go far from their mother and mink, but after reaching 3 months they begin to travel independently over longer distances. It is at this age that the mother stops feeding her cubs milk.

9 months after birth, foxes are ready to mate and live independently in the desert. Some individuals leave and build their own clans, while others remain with their parents and continue their family, helping each other in raising their young.

In the natural environment The lifespan of fennec cats is very short - a maximum of 7 years. At home, funny foxes live much longer - up to 20 years on average.

Difficulties of keeping an animal at home

Breeding these animals at home is quite simple. They quickly get used to new conditions and people. With appropriate upbringing, a fennec baby grows up to be a smart and affectionate pet.

It is advisable to purchase a special large cage or a separate room for the fox. Of course, in a small apartment this will be very problematic and therefore it is not advisable to have a pet in one. Fennec foxes are wild animals and need free personal space.

The floor in the enclosure must be covered with a thick layer of sand. so that the pet can dig minks. If this is not done, then the fox, following its instincts, will begin to dig everything. Main difficulty Keeping a fennec cat at home involves teaching him to relieve himself in a designated place. As a rule, foxes relieve themselves right in the enclosure, and a terrible smell spreads through the apartment. Therefore, it is necessary to make every effort to still teach the fennec to go to the tray.

It will be difficult for the owners and it will be necessary to treat the pet if it gets sick. Despite the fact that bat-eared foxes get sick quite rarely, few veterinarians will be able to help them if necessary.

What to feed your fennec cat?

The animal is not particularly picky when it comes to food and eats almost everything that its owners offer. The predatory fox naturally gives preference to meat. Your pet rarely drinks water, but a bowl filled with it should always be freely available.

Feed at home unusual pet you can use the following products:

pieces of meat;
live food (grasshoppers, mice, lizards);
dairy products;
eggs;
fish.

You can also feed your fennec cat occasionally various cereals, if they suit his taste. In any case, the diet for the animal must be compiled based on its taste preferences.