A family in Peru who were under the impression that they had bought a dog, were caught by surprise after realising that it is really an Andean fox, following an attack that took place in the are the family lives where the fox was attacking other animals.
The Sotelos family had purchased in a shop in Lima what they thought was a puppy of the husky breed for $13.
However, soon after acquiring the fox, they started receiving complaints from nearby neighbours regarding their 'puppy's' behaviour. They call him Run Run.
The fox was then taken from the family by wildlife authorities.
The realisation that Run Run was mistakenly thought to be a dog came after he began killing the neighbors' chickens, ducks and guinea pigs, many of which he ate.
The fox's owner, Maribel Sotelo, told Reuters:
"About a month ago, a woman from around here said that it ate three of her guinea pigs. And then two or three days ago, a local grandmother came and said that it killed guinea pigs."
The owner then was informed that Run Run is an Andean fox but is more closely related to jackals and wolves than to foxes. His distinctive features characteristic of his kind include, a bushy tail, pointed ears and thin legs.
Peru's National Forest and Wildlife Service (SERFOR), reports that wild animals are illegally sold in Lima after being purchased by traffickers who take the animals from areas in the Amazon.
Veterinarian and wildlife specialist at SERFOR, Walter Silva, told Reuters:
"Trafficking in wildlife brings these consequences. Many specimens are captured from hatchlings. For this they kill the parents and these juveniles are illegally traded in informal markets"
[Based on reporting by: BBC]
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