Oklahoma City Zoo Welcomes Newborn Fox & Hedgehog To The Family

The Expedition Africa area of the Oklahoma City Zoo grew a little larger this year. Now visitors can spot the new youngin's out in their respective habitats. In May of this year, the zoo's lesser hedgehog tenrec mother, Orona, gave birth to four little ones. Then, in June, the zoo's female bat-eared fox, Jenn, gave birth to a tiny little kit. 

These births are monumental for the conservation efforts that the Oklahoma City Zoo contributes to with many of their animals. Although some species may not be in dire need of repopulation across the world, having small, successful families live to their fulfillment in places like the OKC zoo help maintain the current populations.

For those wanting to see the little ones, simply purchase a ticket to the Oklahoma City Zoo and wander your way back to the Expedition Africa area of the zoo. Keep a close eye on the zoo's hospital schedule and rooms, as many times they have procedures and important care they have to do for the animals that visitors have full view to watch.

Four new little hedgehogs and a new kit now ready for visitors this summer.

According to the press release from the Oklahoma City Zoo, caretakers originally moved Orona to a more secluded, comfortable area when they confirmed that she was in fact pregnant. Now, she's back into her habitat at the Love’s Pachyderm Building where they say that "she and her offspring are doing well."

This is the zoo's first birth for the species listed as "Species of Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Jenn, the OKC Zoo's bat eared foxed, had a bit of a different birthing story for her little one. According to information from zoo caretakers, she came to the Zoo in 2021 with a male fox after the pair were rescued by the Wildcare Foundation in Noble, Oklahoma from a private owner. Although she survived, the male unfortunately passed away in January 2023. 

Since then, Jen has been exposed to a the zoo's two males, Alfred and Arthur. The female kit was born on Friday, June 6, when caretakers had noticed that the adults were "guarding a hollow log, with the newborn kit hidden safely within." Although they do not currently know which male is the father, they plan to do a blood test soon to find out. 

This marks the first bat-eared fox birth at the OKC Zoo since 2011.

The OKC Zoo Curator of Carnivores, Tyler Boyd, states that these births a very big deal to the Zoo. 

"Both of these births are an exciting addition to our animal family and signify a continued commitment to supporting the breeding recommendations we receive from the Species Survival Plan® [SSP]," he said.