A fox reportedly broke into an outdoor bird habitat at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., killing 25 flamingos in an upsetting loss.
A Northern pintail duck was killed, and three more flamingos were injured, among the fatalities.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: A Chilean Pink Flamingo stands in its enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo on September 25, 2014 in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco Zoo is welcoming four newborn Chilean Flamingo chicks to the Flamingo rookery.
Zoo Employees Found Several Dead Animals After A Fox Attack
On Monday, May 2, zoo employees arrived at their worksite to discover dead birds in their enclosure.
Local officials claim that the workers saw a fox that eventually escaped from the habitat.
Brandie Smith, director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, said the incident is a "heartbreaking loss" for us and every other animal advocate and enthusiast, NBC News reported.
The fox's current whereabouts are unknown, and no reports of a search operation for the canine offender have surfaced.
Surviving Flamingos Moved To a Safer Area
Officials moved the surviving flamingos indoors after the attack, while the ducks were transferred to a covered outdoor area.
On the afternoon of Sunday, May 1, before the incident, an inspection was conducted, and there were no anomalies.
According to officials, who NBC News quoted, authorities conducted another inspection on Monday. They discovered a softball-sized hole in a heavy-duty metal mesh surrounding the outdoor yard.
The metal mesh has been repaired and live traps have been placed around the zoo's yard while an investigation into the incident is underway.
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Nighttime activities have also been monitored using traps equipped with a digital camera and infrared sensors.
The Bird House at the zoo is undergoing renovations and will be closed to the public until further notice.
About Smithsonian National Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoo, also known as the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute or the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, is one of the country's oldest wildlife parks.
The Smithsonian Institute, the world's largest museum and research complex, owns the museum established in 1889.
The zoo is currently located in the Rock Creek Park area of Washington, D.C. It houses approximately 1,800 animals representing over 360 species.
There had been no predator breaches reported since the flamingo exhibit opened in the 1970s until this week's incident, which is thought to be the first in over four decades.
About Foxes
Despite the destruction caused by the fox attack, the incident is not entirely unexpected because foxes eat flamingos.
According to the UK-based conservation charity Woodland Trust, foxes have a diverse diet that includes birds, earthworms, frogs, rabbits, and rodents despite being omnivores.
Furthermore, foxes in urban areas have scavenged for "human food."
According to the organization, foxes' natural habitats are primarily in rural areas like farmland, woodland, and wetlands.
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