29-05-2025
Zoo Knoxville welcomes new litter of bat-eared fox kits
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Zoo Knoxville is now home to six more bat-eared foxes, with the second litter to a pair of parents being born at the end of April.
According to Zoo Knoxville, the six kits, two males and four females, were born on April 30. This is the second set of bat-eared fox kits from mother Motsumi and father Fern, who welcomed their first kit, Ziggy, in 2024. Zoo Knoxville said all six kits are thriving and have begun eating solid food.
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'This is one of the largest litters of bat-eared foxes born in human care in the country, and we are thrilled with how well all six kits are doing,' said Terry Canon, Head Curator of Carnivores. 'Fern and Motsumi are showing outstanding parental instincts. They are working closely together to care for and protect their young.'
Zoo Knoxville said both parents are working together and providing excellent care for their growing family. The kits recently had a wellness check with the zoo's veterinary team, and while they are being monitored closely, human interaction is being kept to a minimum to allow the kits to bond with their family naturally.
Guests may soon be able to spot the kits during the early mornings and later afternoons as they venture out of the den.
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Bat-eared foxes play a vital role in controlling insect populations in the more than 10 African Countries they are native to. Annually, one bat-eared fox can consume more than a million termites.
Zoo Knoxville said while the species is not endangered, they are increasingly impacted by habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
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