Three baby fennec foxes have begun emerging from the burrow at the Mykolaiv Zoo
The timid offspring are cared for by their mother, grandmother and older sister
Visitors to the Mykolaiv Zoo can already see three baby fennecs that were born on 17 June. The youngsters have grown noticeably, but remain skittish and cautious.
The parents are Lika and Fafik. Both fennecs were also born at the Mykolaiv Zoo. Fafik was hand-reared at one time and grew up around people. Later the animal was successfully integrated into a group of relatives. He is now the father of several pups.
The first weeks the newborns did not leave the burrow. Gradually they began to venture outside only after the zoo closed, when there were no people around. Staff set up a camera trap, which captured the young for the first time and revealed that there are three of them.
Now the little fennecs sometimes come out of the burrow during the day. However, any suspicious movement or noise sends them quickly back into hiding.
The young are simultaneously cared for by three females: mother Lika, grandmother Lana and older sister Liza. They protect the pups and may attack anyone who comes too close to the enclosure. For safety reasons Fafik has been temporarily moved to the adjacent enclosure.
The zoo advises visitors not to make noise and not to approach the animals. If you watch patiently, you may notice a curious, big-eared face poking out of the burrow briefly.
Previously we wrote:
