WILD ANIMAL PARK'S FIRST-EVER LITTER OF AFRICAN FOXES EMERGE FROM BIRTHING DEN

JUNE 15, 2006

A litter of four young bat-eared foxes have begun emerging from their birthing den at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. This unique species of African fox is rarely seen in zoos and this is the first litter ever born at the Park.

Bat-eared foxes are native to the African savannas. This family pack can be seen in the Wild Animal Park's Heart of Africa exhibit where they share a habitat with warthogs.

Bat-eared foxes are nocturnal creatures, emerging from their dens in the early evening to hunt insects, rodents, birds and eggs. Due to their nocturnal behavior, typically these unique foxes are rarely seen by day-visitors to the Park, except those who arrive first thing in the morning. However, with the Park's debut of "Park at Dark" activities this weekend, guests may have a better chance of glimpsing these night-dwellers. Park at Dark kicks off Saturday and continues through Sept. 5. Guests can explore the Wild Animal Park, looking for nighttime critters like these foxes until 9 p.m. Other nighttime activities include African dancers, singers and acrobats.

The 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park (more than half of which has been set aside as protected native species habitat) is operated by the not-for-profit Zoological Society of San Diego. The Zoological Society, dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats, engages in conservation and research work around the globe. The Zoological Society also manages the 100-acre San Diego Zoo and the department of Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES).