According to the Bronx Zoo, a red fox stowaway that was discovered in February aboard a ship that left Southampton, England and arrived at the Port of New York and New Jersey, has been making himself at home at the zoo.
The fox left Southampton on February 4, 2026 with a shipment of automobiles. The ship, identified as the M/V Tijuca, docked in New York on February 18.
The male red fox is about two years old, weighed in at 11 pounds and was detected amid the ship’s cargo. After he was safely captured by United States Customs and Border Protection, government wildlife officials agreed to bringing him to the Bronz Zoo.
The Bronx Zoo regularly works with government agencies and other partners to help rescue wildlife that is illegally trafficked through nearby ports and airports or in rare cases like this, where an animal is a stowaway.
The fox is currently in the Animal Health Center at the Bronx Zoo, where it is under the care of the zoo’s animal and veterinary teams. Initial examinations indicate that the fox appears to be in good condition. Veterinarians are awaiting results from additional routine health screening. Once the veterinary team determines the fox is healthy, the zoo will work with wildlife officials to help find him a suitable long term home.
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