NORFOLK, Va. — The Virginia Zoo has sadly announced the loss of its 13-year-old fennec fox, Ghibli on Monday, March 11.
The zoo’s keepers and staff said that it was a difficult decision, but they decided to humanely euthanize Ghibli due to his rapidly declining quality of life from liver issues.
The furry mammal, according to the zoo, was a staple in the Africa-Okavango Delta exhibit, home to a collection of scenic landscapes and impressive creatures, big and small.
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The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute says fennec foxes (scientific name: Vulpes Zerda) are known for their coats, which are noted to be long, soft and thick with a range in color from reddish cream to light fawn to almost white.
Fennec foxes on average grow to be 9 to 16 inches and weigh from 1 to 3 lbs. In human care, these species can live up to 14 years.