A fox that stowed away aboard a vehicle transporter from Southampton to New York has successfully completed quarantine after treatment for a rare heartworm infection. The two-year-old male red fox, named Basil, was discovered by customs officers among the cargo when the ship docked at the Port of New York and New Jersey in February.
Basil was taken to the Bronx Zoo, where veterinarians diagnosed him with French heartworm, a parasite that attacks blood vessels in the lungs and can cause severe respiratory illness. The condition is uncommon in the United States but more prevalent in wild foxes and pet dogs across Europe.
Over the course of a month, Basil received three different deworming medications as part of a carefully managed treatment plan. Repeated diagnostic tests confirmed the infection has been successfully cleared. Throughout his treatment, Basil showed significant improvement, gaining weight and developing a fuller, shinier coat.
When he arrived, Basil weighed 5.1kg (11.2lb), but now tips the scales at 6.2kg (13.7lb). 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.'
A spokeswoman for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the zoo, confirmed that staff are still assessing the most appropriate long-term home for the fox. Meanwhile, a spokesman for ABP Southampton quipped: '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.'
