Meet the Fennec Fox Triplets

Three Fennec Fox kits born at Longleat in Wiltshire have reached their six-month milestone.

Born in April weighing just 46 grams each, they now weigh 20 times more and top the scales at around one kilogram each.

Keepers are delighted with the progress of the kits. With only 40 per cent of babies surviving to adulthood, it’s hoped the trio will be an essential addition to the international breeding programme.

Hand reared by keepers, the three have been named as Pinkie, Green Bean and William.

Catriona Moy, Team Manager of Animal Adventure and Lakes, said “The three kits are all doing really well and are all growing into their personalities. Pinkie is becoming increasingly independent, while Green Bean and William take a little more reassurance, particularly around new and different noises.”

“The kits are approaching their parents’ weight, with mature Fennec Foxes weighing between 1.2 - 1.4kg. Fennec Foxes reach maturity at nine – 10 months old. They have been regularly eating cooked chicken and egg, their particular favourites, with the focus now on introducing live invertebrates and prey behaviour as they would in the wild.

“They are all incredibly playful, and love nothing more than enrichment, particularly if they can chew it!”

Pinkie, Green Bean and William were born to Enzi and Zuri, Longleat’s resident pair of Fennec Foxes. The triplets have been hand-reared, due to Zuri not producing enough colostrum or milk.

“The triplets are incredibly important to the conservation of their species, as their bloodline isn't represented anywhere else, meaning that in the future we hope they will move onto new homes to be part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).” said Catriona.