For almost a year now, the Antwerp zoo has been stuck with an unwanted guest who comes to steal a geese and pigeons in the park at night. Last summer the Zoo took measures. The flamingos and coypu, among others, received extra protection. The animal regularly appeared on nighttime camera images during its wandering in search of treats, but the animal could never be caught.

“Catching a fox is very difficult, any animal expert can tell you that”, any animal expert can tell you. “Fortunately, the animal was mainly looking for waste, and less interested in our animal collection, but we certainly took it for granted when selecting birds and smaller animal species. The coypu their extra protection has meanwhile been taken away. The flamingos are still behind a net due to the mandatory bird cage obligation at the moment, but they remain visible to the public.”

On Christmas Eve, the fox was finally intercepted by a park caretaker. “We brought the animal to the Natuurhulpcentrum in Opglabbeek so that it could be released back into the wild,” Segers continues. “But unfortunately it died there. The cause of death is currently unknown.”

When asked where that fox came from, the zoo has an answer. “It is known that large cities nowadays are full of foxes. In Brussels they are not even shy anymore, but they are also on the rise in Antwerp. Especially in times of lockdowns, when fewer people are walking around in the city, the fox takes its place on the street. We hope, of course, that fox’s placement will not be replaced by another one.”