A stowaway fox that sneaked aboard a vehicle transporter vessel from the UK port of Southampton to New York has completed quarantine following treatment for a type of heartworm. The two-year-old male red fox, now named Basil, was taken into the Bronx Zoo on February 19 after being discovered among the cargo by customs officers when the ship docked at the Port of New York and New Jersey.
Treatment and Recovery
A spokeswoman for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the zoo, revealed Basil had been diagnosed with French heartworm, a parasite that attacks blood vessels in the lungs and triggers serious respiratory illness. She explained that this parasite is uncommon in the United States and tends to be found in wild foxes and pet dogs across Europe.
The spokeswoman said: "Over the course of approximately one month, Basil received three different types of deworming medications as part of a carefully managed treatment plan. Following treatment, veterinarians repeated diagnostic testing multiple times to confirm the infection has now been successfully cleared."
"Throughout his treatment, Basil showed significant improvement. He gained weight, developed a fuller and shinier coat, and demonstrated strong overall health during follow-up examinations. Veterinary and animal care staff noted a dramatic improvement in his body condition and appearance during his most recent health check."
When Basil arrived, he weighed 11.2lb (5.1kg), but now tips the scales at 13.7lb (6.2kg). Craig Piper, the zoo's interim director, said: "Basil has done exceptionally well since arriving at the Bronx Zoo. Treating wildlife like this requires extensive co-ordination and expertise from our veterinary and animal care teams. We are very pleased with his recovery and continued progress since his long journey across the Atlantic."
Future Plans
The spokeswoman confirmed that the zoo is still assessing the most appropriate long-term home for the fox. A spokesman for ABP Southampton quipped after Basil was discovered: "The Port of Southampton handles everything from cars to containers to cruises, but even we were surprised to find a fox had booked itself a transatlantic crossing. Clearly it fancied swapping the Solent for the Staten Island Ferry, though next time we'd recommend it considers the Queen Mary 2, which offers the Southampton to New York route with considerably more comfort."
