Australasian Fennec Fox Research Thread

akasha

akasha

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Info on Fennec Foxes has been a little difficult to source. This is what I have so far. (Depending on what happened to Azizi, the numbers may not be quite right.) Any corrections or additions would be appreciated. I've listed a few questions at the bottom.

Fennec Fox

Five/six facilities in Australia currently hold Fennec Fox (Vulpes zerda). A small remnant population of six individuals was added to in 2011 with an import of 1.2 animals from LA Zoo to Adelaide. In 2010/2011 Taronga imported a male (Zinder) from Germany to pair with a female (Sha) who came from Adelaide. Sha was replaced by a female (Kebilli), imported from Poland in 2011. Zinder and Kebilli produced 3 litters; 2012 [Zhara, Mia, Azizi], 2013 [Mali, Kito, Sundai], 2016 [Zalika].
D’Aguilar began gathering foxes from around the country in 2019 for the purposes of breeding. Sundai and Kito came from Mogo. Dahni who was born at D'Aguilar in 2020 is the most recent birth. He was hand-raised. In 2021 when D’Aguilar’s exotic animal licence was revoked, the foxes were dispersed to other zoos for temporary holding. Belle and Sundai went to Central Coast Zoo, Kito went to Adelaide and Dahni went to Billabong. There are no Fennec Foxes in New Zealand.

Adelaide Zoo, SA, Australia

0.1 Zhara (Zinder x Kebilli) 19/12/2012 Transferred from Taronga 2019
1.0 Kito (Zinder x Kebilli) 17/09/2013 Transferred from D’Aguilar 2021, Transferred from Mogo

Billabong Zoo, NSW, Australia

1.0 Akoke (unk x unk) 17/10/2011 Transferred 2017
0.1 Shendi (unk x unk) 17/10/2011 Transferred 2017
1.0 Dahni (unk x Belle) 23/10/2020 (on loan from D'Aguilar Wildlife)

Central Coast Zoo, NSW, Australia

0.1 Belle (unk x unk) 00/00/0000 (on loan from D'Aguilar Wildlife)
1.0 Sundai (Zinder x Kebilli) 17/09/2013 (on loan from D'Aguilar Wildlife)

D'Aguilar Wildlife, QLD, Australia

1.0 Azizi (Zinder x Kebilli) 19/12/2012 Transferred from Hunter Valley 2019

Halls Gap Zoo, VIC, Australia

1.0 Jeff (Matthew x Scamp) 07/10/2012 Transferred from Adelaide 2014
0.1 Mali (Zinder x Kebilli) 17/09/2013 Transferred from Taronga

Taronga Zoo, NSW, Australia

0.1 Zalika (Zinder x Kebilli) 03/12/2016

Fennec Fox Population Total: 11 (6.5)

Who are Akoke and Shendi's parents? (I think they came from Taronga? Zinder/Sha?)
Who is Dahni's father? (Presumably Sundai)
Where did Belle come from?
Where did Azizi from D'Aguilar go? Is he still alive?
Has Adelaide received the new male from Niabi Zoo?
 
akasha said:
Info on Fennec Foxes has been a little difficult to source. This is what I have so far. (Depending on what happened to Azizi, the numbers may not be quite right.) Any corrections or additions would be appreciated. I've listed a few questions at the bottom.

Fennec Fox

Five/six facilities in Australia currently hold Fennec Fox (Vulpes zerda). A small remnant population of six individuals was added to in 2011 with an import of 1.2 animals from LA Zoo to Adelaide. In 2010/2011 Taronga imported a male (Zinder) from Germany to pair with a female (Sha) who came from Adelaide. Sha was replaced by a female (Kebilli), imported from Poland in 2011. Zinder and Kebilli produced 3 litters; 2012 [Zhara, Mia, Azizi], 2013 [Mali, Kito, Sundai], 2016 [Zalika].
D’Aguilar began gathering foxes from around the country in 2019 for the purposes of breeding. Sundai and Kito came from Mogo. Dahni who was born at D'Aguilar in 2020 is the most recent birth. He was hand-raised. In 2021 when D’Aguilar’s exotic animal licence was revoked, the foxes were dispersed to other zoos for temporary holding. Belle and Sundai went to Central Coast Zoo, Kito went to Adelaide and Dahni went to Billabong. There are no Fennec Foxes in New Zealand.

Adelaide Zoo, SA, Australia

0.1 Zhara (Zinder x Kebilli) 19/12/2012 Transferred from Taronga 2019
1.0 Kito (Zinder x Kebilli) 17/09/2013 Transferred from D’Aguilar 2021, Transferred from Mogo

Billabong Zoo, NSW, Australia

1.0 Akoke (unk x unk) 17/10/2011 Transferred 2017
0.1 Shendi (unk x unk) 17/10/2011 Transferred 2017
1.0 Dahni (unk x Belle) 23/10/2020 (on loan from D'Aguilar Wildlife)

Central Coast Zoo, NSW, Australia

0.1 Belle (unk x unk) 00/00/0000 (on loan from D'Aguilar Wildlife)
1.0 Sundai (Zinder x Kebilli) 17/09/2013 (on loan from D'Aguilar Wildlife)

D'Aguilar Wildlife, QLD, Australia

1.0 Azizi (Zinder x Kebilli) 19/12/2012 Transferred from Hunter Valley 2019

Halls Gap Zoo, VIC, Australia

1.0 Jeff (Matthew x Scamp) 07/10/2012 Transferred from Adelaide 2014
0.1 Mali (Zinder x Kebilli) 17/09/2013 Transferred from Taronga

Taronga Zoo, NSW, Australia

0.1 Zalika (Zinder x Kebilli) 03/12/2016

Fennec Fox Population Total: 11 (6.5)

Who are Akoke and Shendi's parents? (I think they came from Taronga? Zinder/Sha?)
Who is Dahni's father? (Presumably Sundai)
Where did Belle come from?
Where did Azizi from D'Aguilar go? Is he still alive?
Has Adelaide received the new male from Niabi Zoo?
Click to expand...

Great list!:)

I don't think Adelaide's received the male from the Niabi Zoo. They should only still have their current pair.

I don't think Akoke and Shendi were Taronga born though.
 
Going back to 2010, the region had the following Fennec Foxes.

Adelaide- Tisca (from Taronga, handraised), Kira (from Melbourne)
Taronga- Sha (from Adelaide, originally Melbourne)
Mogo- Two males (??)

Taronga had a male that died in the late 2000’s who was born in the late 80’s. He was the father of Tisca.
 
Jambo said:
Going back to 2010, the region had the following Fennec Foxes.

Adelaide- Tisca (from Taronga, handraised), Kira (from Melbourne)
Taronga- Sha (from Adelaide, originally Melbourne)
Mogo- Two males (??)

Taronga had a male that died in the late 2000’s who was born in the late 80’s. He was the father of Tisca.
Click to expand...

The episode of The Zoo about Tisca's birth should have his parents' names mentioned, although I can't remember them off the top of my head (I would guess that Sha is his mother, though). Maybe Tsoka or Soka or something like that? The episode comes up on 7Plus from time to time, if I find it or find my DVD of the series, I'll let you know.
 
Abbey said:
The episode of The Zoo about Tisca's birth should have his parents' names mentioned, although I can't remember them off the top of my head (I would guess that Sha is his mother, though). Maybe Tsoka or Soka or something like that? The episode comes up on 7Plus from time to time, if I find it or find my DVD of the series, I'll let you know.
Click to expand...

Sha wasn't the mother, it was another female but I'm not sure which. Sha was actually swapped for Tisca, to give Adelaide a potential breeding pair.

Tisca would've been born sometime in the late 2000's, but not sure of an exact date.

No pressure to find the name, but it would be interesting nonetheless.
 
Jambo said:
Sha wasn't the mother, it was another female but I'm not sure which. Sha was actually swapped for Tisca, to give Adelaide a potential breeding pair.

Tisca would've been born sometime in the late 2000's, but not sure of an exact date.

No pressure to find the name, but it would be interesting nonetheless.
Click to expand...

Ah right, thanks for that.

Just had a brainwave that I have a ZooNooz magazine with a baby Tizga on the back.

1.0 Tizga (13/11/2007) Tokar x Libiya

Tokar and Libiya were older parents, so it's not out of the question that both had died by 2010. Tizga had a littermate brother, who did not survive past infancy.
 
Abbey said:
Ah right, thanks for that.

Just had a brainwave that I have a ZooNooz magazine with a baby Tizga on the back.

1.0 Tizga (13/11/2007) Tokar x Libiya

Tokar and Libiya were older parents, so it's not out of the question that both had died by 2010. Tizga had a littermate brother, who did not survive past infancy.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's right, I remember Tokar! He was the older male and had been at Taronga for many many years.
 
Have done some more research and gone over some old notes, putting a few more things together:

Going from my list of individuals alive in 2010 in post #11;

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taronga: went on to import a male (Zinder) from Germany in 2010. He was paired with their female Sha, but she died soon afterwards in 2010/2011. Taronga then imported a female (Kebili) from Poland in 2011.

They went on to produce 3 litters:

19/12/2012:
1.0 Azizi
0.1 Kesi
0.1 Zhara

17/09/2013:
1.0 Kito
1.0 Sundai
0.1 Mali

03/12/2016:
0.1 Zalika

In 2014, sisters, Kesi and Zahra were sent to Perth. They were later sent to Wildlife HQ in 2018, with Kesi dying in 2019. Zahra was later sent to Adelaide in 2020.

In 2015, siblings, Mali and Azizi were sent to Hunter Valley whilst Kito and Sundai were sent to Mogo.

Soon after arrival to Hunter Valley, Mali was sent to Halls Gap.

In 2019, Azizi was transferred to D'Aguilar Wildlife with another female (Belle). I'm assuming she was Adelaide born in 2013? Azizi died there late 2019/early 2020.

Kito and Sundai were sent to D'Aguilar Wildlife in 2019 too, from Mogo. One of the two sired Dahni (2020).

Taronga's female, Kebili, died sometime in 2017/2018 and male Zinder died in 2020.

~~~~~~~~

Adelaide: went on to import 1.2 Fennec Foxes from Europe in 2011. Adelaide's previous female, Kira died around this time.

Two, 1.0 Matthew and 0.1 Scamp were paired up. The other female (Amber) was paired with Adelaide's existing male, Tigza (2007).

Matthew and Scamp produced two litters to my knowledge:

17/10/2011
1.0 Akoke
0.1 Shendi

07/10/2012
1.0 Jeff
0.1 Jorja

Akoke and Shendi were sent to Monarto in May 2016, and later on to Billabong in 2017.

Jeff and Jorja were sent to Halls Gap in 2014, with Jorja dying sometime after.


Tigza and Amber also produced a litter:

00/01/2013
0.1 Unnamed *presumbly Belle*

The trio were then sent to Monarto in May of 2013. Tigza died there in November 2015. Amber was sent back to Adelaide in May 2016 in a swap for their female, Scamp. Scamp died sometime in 2018/2019, and if the other female was indeed Belle, she was sent to D'Aguilar in 2019 as Monarto's last Fennec Fox.

Over at Adelaide, Amber was paired with Matthew. Amber died in 2018/2019. Female, Zhara arrived from Wildlife HQ in 2019. She was paired with Matthew, who died in late 2021. That same year, a male, Kito, was imported from D'Aguilar Wildlife.

~~~~~~~~

I hope that info helps @akasha. :)
 
Jambo said:
Have done some more research and gone over some old notes, putting a few more things together:

Going from my list of individuals alive in 2010 in post #11;

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taronga: went on to import a male (Zinder) from Germany in 2010. He was paired with their female Sha, but she died soon afterwards in 2010/2011. Taronga then imported a female (Kebili) from Poland in 2011.

They went on to produce 3 litters:

19/12/2012:
1.0 Azizi
0.1 Kesi
0.1 Zhara

17/09/2013:
1.0 Kito
1.0 Sundai
0.1 Mali

03/12/2016:
0.1 Zalika

In 2014, sisters, Kesi and Zahra were sent to Perth. They were later sent to Wildlife HQ in 2018, with Kesi dying in 2019. Zahra was later sent to Adelaide in 2020.

In 2015, siblings, Mali and Azizi were sent to Hunter Valley whilst Kito and Sundai were sent to Mogo.

Soon after arrival to Hunter Valley, Mali was sent to Halls Gap.

In 2019, Azizi was transferred to D'Aguilar Wildlife with another female (Belle). I'm assuming she was Adelaide born in 2013? Azizi died there late 2019/early 2020.

Kito and Sundai were sent to D'Aguilar Wildlife in 2019 too, from Mogo. One of the two sired Dahni (2020).

Taronga's female, Kebili, died sometime in 2017/2018 and male Zinder died in 2020.

~~~~~~~~

Adelaide: went on to import 1.2 Fennec Foxes from Europe in 2011. Adelaide's previous female, Kira died around this time.

Two, 1.0 Matthew and 0.1 Scamp were paired up. The other female (Amber) was paired with Adelaide's existing male, Tigza (2007).

Matthew and Scamp produced two litters to my knowledge:

17/10/2011
1.0 Akoke
0.1 Shendi

07/10/2012
1.0 Jeff
0.1 Jorja

Akoke and Shendi were sent to Monarto in May 2016, and later on to Billabong in 2017.

Jeff and Jorja were sent to Halls Gap in 2014, with Jorja dying sometime after.


Tigza and Amber also produced a litter:

00/01/2013
0.1 Unnamed *presumbly Belle*

The trio were then sent to Monarto in May of 2013. Tigza died there in November 2015. Amber was sent back to Adelaide in May 2016 in a swap for their female, Scamp. Scamp died sometime in 2018/2019, and if the other female was indeed Belle, she was sent to D'Aguilar in 2019 as Monarto's last Fennec Fox.

Over at Adelaide, Amber was paired with Matthew. Amber died in 2018/2019. Female, Zhara arrived from Wildlife HQ in 2019. She was paired with Matthew, who died in late 2021. That same year, a male, Kito, was imported from D'Aguilar Wildlife.

~~~~~~~~

I hope that info helps @akasha. :)
Click to expand...
Yes, that confirms a lot of what I had and fills in a few gaps. Thanks!
 
akasha said:
Yes, that confirms a lot of what I had and fills in a few gaps. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Your welcome.:)

It's interesting to see most of the population being so closely condensed together age wise (all born between 2011 and 2013). They'd be elderly now, so if there's no imports within the next few years we could be left with only two or so Fennec Foxes by then. Adelaide have expressed interest in importing a male, but considering the region now has all older Fennecs, it would be better if younger ones could be imported to rejuvenate the breeding program.
 
Jambo said:
Your welcome.:)

It's interesting to see most of the population being so closely condensed together age wise (all born between 2011 and 2013). They'd be elderly now, so if there's no imports within the next few years we could be left with only two or so Fennec Foxes by then. Adelaide have expressed interest in importing a male, but considering the region now has all older Fennecs, it would be better if younger ones could be imported to rejuvenate the breeding program.
Click to expand...
Yes, it is interesting. They’re a tough species to get the right balance with, which is why a lot of zoos aren’t bothered with keeping them I guess. Obviously they are cute and everyone loves them, but in reality they are nocturnal and therefore visitors mostly see a ball of sandy fur hiding somewhere in the enclosure which isn’t super interesting. I think offering more encounters would probably help, because lets face it, Fennec Foxes in zoos are already living a very unnatural life, and they make okay pets so I think they kinda like human interaction. Saying all that though, they are easy to transport, only need a small enclosure and would be relatively cheap to keep, so having them in a zoo kinda seems like a no brainer.
I reckon the next step would be to import a girlfriend for Dahni. (Though I don’t know if being hand-raised would affect his interaction with other foxes.) And the logistics could be tricky, he’s at Billabong for now, but I assume D'Aguilar will want him back at some point.
 
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