Dhaka, 21 Sep, Abnews: The Bengal Fox (Vulpes bengalensis) is an animal that leads a solitary life like no other. Small in size with a barely visible grayish tint and prominent black tipped tail, this creature loves to spend the hot days hidden away in its den only coming out after sunset to quietly hunt and feed. Its normal diet consists heavily on rodents, reptiles, crabs, termites, insects, small birds, and fruits. Scats of young pups appeared to show that they fed mainly on rodents but they are also opportunistic feeders. Living in close proximity to human settlements, they regularly scavenge whatever they can from leftovers and waste piles.
Foxes are widely known for their avoidance of human contact at all costs, but recently reports are coming in of foxes not only daring to venture in front of humans but also going to the lengths of attacking and biting them. They are also reported to be travelling and hunting in packs now, which is quite astounding. This absurd behavior in foxes has led researchers to think that there have been major tips in balances of food and habitat availability for the foxes that are prompting them to take such desperate actions. Recently a study was conducted in the villages of Bakerganj in Barishal, from where the reports were the strongest, revealing staggering information about the situations that are leading to such violent behavior in supposedly timid creatures. The study was undertaken by the students of Independent University Bangladesh as a part of an ongoing project aimed at researching on the dynamics of Foxes in Bangladesh.
Foxes are despised creatures in rural Bangladesh, according to the study findings. They are captured and killed wherever and whenever found due to their tendencies of killing and eating poultry. Furthermore, the villagers in Bakerganj revealed that a strange superstition that the oil found in fox meat can cure ailments such as Arthritis, also leading to the capture and killing of foxes. To top it all off, the villagers reported that the woodland areas in the region, where foxes usually make their dens, are all being cleared, either for agriculture, development or simply to evict foxes from the area. According to the villagers during the initial survey in Bakerganj, these have led to a major decline in fox populations throughout Bakerganj. “Five years ago it was hard to sleep at night because of fox calls, but now we barely hear a group of foxes at night,” said one elderly villager Moslem Howlader (62).
Although the study is ongoing, the recent surveys have led to the conclusion that human encroachment on fox territories and the incessant killing of their populations are partly to blame for the behavioral changes being noticed in these creatures.
The recent bouts of violent behavior in foxes have aggravated the situation in these areas. Foxes are now seen as a threat rather than just a nuisance, and fox killing sprees are going on every season, leading to the deaths of hundreds of these beautiful creatures. It may be stated here that the fox plays a vital role in the control and regulation of rodent species. These rodent species are not only pests that can ruin crops, but also spread numerous diseases.
The recent study was undertaken with the objective of trying to better understand these misunderstood creatures and conserving it through awareness raising and ecosystem restoration. The study aims to cover more districts in Bangladesh and draw the attention of the government towards the conservation of this vital species that is unique to the Indian Sub-continent.
ABN/Wed-1st/Adrian/Mustafiz/AD