By Lauren Beavis via SWNS
A pair of fox kits who have been hand-reared by keepers at a safari park are thriving.
The Fennec Fox kits arrived at Longleat Safari Park, in Wiltshire, when they were born in April.
They weighed in at 46g at birth and have been hand reared since they were just 24 hours old.
Now they are almost 10 times their birth weight and the team know they are both female – but have not yet named them.
A video of the kits shows the pair nestling in the hands of their keepers to ears pricked and exploring their surroundings.
Keeper Samantha Peeke, who has been sharing the sleepless nights with colleagues Gemma Short and Catriona Moy, said: “They are using their trademark ears as they grow and begin to explore and listen to their new surroundings.
“They are needing less frequent care and quickly finding their feet as they are introduced new sights and sounds.
“As they dig, run, jump and climb over each other, they are certainly not fazed by the unique sounds that Longleat brings, especially with their parrot neighbors squawking.”
According to Samantha, the kids are now eating mostly solid foods, with only two milk feeds a day and have now reached 400 grams.
She explained: “Their diet now mostly consists of chicken and egg, as well as some vegetables, including green beans which are one of their favorites.”
The fennec fox is the smallest member of the fox family.
They reach a maximum length of under 40cm and weigh less than two kilograms.
Fennec foxes dwell in the sandy Sahara and elsewhere in North Africa, according to National Geographic.
Their nocturnal habits help them deal with the searing heat of the desert environment, and some physical adaptations help as well.
Their distinctive ears radiate body heat and help keep the animals cool.
Catriona, Team Leader of Animal Adventure and Lakes, said the kits will receive their inoculations at eight and 12 weeks.
She added: “We will continue to monitor them and when the time is right, we will begin the long reintroduction process, so the kits can join their mum, Zuri, and dad, Enzi, to live as a family unit and be seen by guests.
“The process will take some time, as we will begin to introduce each group to the other’s scents, before letting them meet through a divider.
“We are really excited that they are doing so well as their birth is so important, not only for Longleat but also to the European breeding program with two females to help the species in the future.”
