Red fox traveled 6,000 km, ‘smuggling’ from England to America

On March 12, the Bronx Zoo announced that customs officers at New York Port had discovered a red fox about two years old on a cargo ship from Southampton, England, to the US on February 18.

The fox boarded a train full of cars that departed on February 4, traveling about 6,000 km across the Atlantic Ocean. It was taken to the zoo and given a health check. American media reported on the incident with humorous comments such as “Mr. ticket evasion” and “foxes are really cunning”.

“It seems like he’s adapting very well,” said Keith Lovett, director of animal programs at the zoo. The fox weighs 5 kg and is in good health after being examined.

The zoo will find the animal a new home once it receives a health certificate. “The Bronx Zoo regularly works with officials to help rescue wildlife,” a zoo representative said.

The red fox is one of the most common carnivorous mammals globally, living in Europe, Asia and North America as well as in parts of Africa.

There are tens of thousands of urban foxes in the UK. They have been part of the city landscape since the 1930s, when urbanization spread to the rural areas where they lived.