The first-ever hybrid of a dog and fox, known as ‘dogxim’, has passed away two years after its rescue in Brazil. It was observed that the dogxim did not consume the typical diet of dogs. Instead, it readily ate small rats when offered.
Dogxim, a unique blend of dog and fox, was saved following a hit-and-run accident in Brazil in 2021. Newsweek reported that this extraordinary creature, which captivated both wildlife lovers and researchers, unfortunately died after being moved to a different facility for recovery. The exact cause of death remains unknown.
Cristina Araujo Matzenbacher, one of the researchers who discovered the dogxim, shared her experience with Newsweek. She explained that as biologists and veterinarians, they are trained to spot similarities and differences in animals. This is what led them to identify the dogxim. She noted that the creature had eyes similar to a domestic dog and long ears like a pampas fox, despite its dark coat and dog-like bark. Following its rescue from the hit-and-run incident, the severely wounded dogxim was brought to the veterinary hospital of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). It was later moved to the Center for Conservation and Rehabilitation of Wild Animals.
Matzenbacher also mentioned another fox-like behavior observed in the dogxim – it climbed a bush in its enclosure. Regarding its death, she said they are still uncertain about what caused it and are eager to find out.
She mentioned that biologist Herbert Hasse Junior had spotted two animals with an unusual phenotype in nature back in 2019. It’s believed that one of these animals was the female hybrid that was later involved in the 2021 accident, while the other animal hasn’t been seen since.