This spring, the nature conservation park continues to welcome new animals, this time two females of this unique African fox, marking the start of its participation in an international conservation program.
The immense biodiversity of our planet is our greatest treasure, and our greatest challenge is, literally, to "save from extinction" this wonderful variety of all kinds of living beings. BIOPARC means "park of life," because it was born with the aim of bringing the beauty of nature closer and raising awareness about its protection. In this sense, the home of more than 6.000 animals of 150 different species, because it is essential to know not only the most emblematic ones like gorillas or giraffes, but also to discover many others that may go unnoticed, but are equally necessary to maintain the natural balance. An example of this philosophy of dissemination is the bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) from which BIOPARC has received two females this week.
BIOPARC Valencia receives two bat-eared foxes (Otocyon megalotis).
As part of the global strategy for the preservation of endangered speciesZora and Zinzi, two eight-month-old bat-eared foxes, have traveled from Beekse Bergen Park (Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands) in a specialized transport vehicle. In this way, the Valencian park begins its participation in the European Program (EEP), which, under strict scientific criteria, seeks to guarantee their survival ex situ. For the moment, They are in a period of acclimatization in the indoor enclosures arranged as dens so that they can enjoy maximum comfort, even incorporating heat sources.
These early days The animal care team is monitoring that the adaptation Their new home is going great, and they're expected to soon be able to start exploring the outdoor area. In this case, they'll be sharing it with the "weirdos." oricteropos (also known as aardvarks) at the renowned BIOPARC site that recreates their unique burrows.
After the necessary adaptation period, which is progressing optimally, they will share the well-known aardvark burrow located in the savannah-like area. Included on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, this species is currently under threat. Its main problems are the severe impact of droughts, aggravated by climate change, various diseases, and hunting for its fur.
This canid is striking because of its large size of their ears, which are crucial to their survival strategy as they are essential for thermoregulation and allow them to detect sounds from their preferred food: termites or, failing that, ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. A characteristic of this carnivore is its primarily insectivorous diet, which provides most of its water requirements. It only occasionally hunts small rodents, chicks, or lizards. In the wild, it usually coexists with herds of large herbivores such as buffalo, zebras, and wildebeest, because the dung they generate attracts insects that are a perfect nutrient for the bat-eared fox.
The bat-eared fox is included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)., currently classified as "least concern," although vigilance is necessary as they are affected by periods of drought, which are becoming increasingly aggravated by climate change and a decrease in available insects, as well as by diseases such as rabies and distemper, which drastically reduce their population in the short term.
It is also hunted for its attractive fur. In this context, in situ conservation measures are also essential. BIOPARC Foundation in the so-called biodiversity “hotspots,” to try to reverse the negative impact of human activity and restore these valuable, degraded environments on our planet.
