Adelaide Zoo

As a conservation charity, every visit, adoption, donation and ticket helps save species from extinction

Fennec Fox

Fennec Fox standing on all fours in enclosure.
Fennec Fox curled up into ball looking at camera.
Fennec Fox licking its lips

Animal Facts

  • Genus:

    Vulpes

  • Species:

    Vulpes zerda

  • Conservation
    Status:

    Least Concern

  • Found In:

    North Africa

  • Length:

    29-41cm

  • Height:

    20cm

  • Weight:

    approx. 1.6kg

Meet the large eared Fennec Foxes!

Adelaide Zoo’s Fennec Fox duo Kito and Zahra can usually be found snoozing during the day in the cave under the heat lamps or finding a cool spot under the rocks in summer.

This sibling pair were born at Taronga Zoo, Zahra in 2012 and Kito a year later. Zahra moved to Adelaide Zoo in 2019 and was joined by Kito two years later.

Both Fennec foxes are very good problem solvers and really enjoy foraging for mealworms or crickets or navigating enrichment items for yummy treats.

The Fennec Fox is the smallest fox in the world and are identified in the wild by their unusually large ears. These nocturnal animals are native to North African deserts, and live in burrows to avoid the extreme desert heat.

These tiny omnivores maintain a diet of insects, rodents, snails, lizards, plants, fruits, roots, and eggs. By hunting at night, they use their large ears to help locate prey in the sand. The ears also help dispel any excess body heat to help keep them cool.

In their desert homes, the Fennec Fox live in family groups within their burrows of up to ten. Females have a gestation period of 50 days, with litters consisting of 2-5 kits. At 10 months old, the Fennec Fox reaches their full size of 29-41cm along with a tail length of up to 30cm.

Love our Fennec Foxes? Join the pack and ensure they stay ahead of extinction. There are many ways you can help support these fascinating animals. 

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