MEXICO-RACCOON DOG Mexico City's Chapultepec zoo welcomes birth of nine raccoon dog pups

Record ID: 144464

  • Title: MEXICO-RACCOON DOG Mexico City's Chapultepec zoo welcomes birth of nine raccoon dog pups
  • Date: 7th August 2015
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (AUGUST 6, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RACCOON DOG PUPS IN THEIR ENCLOSURE ZOO VISITORS LOOKING ON MORE OF RACCOON DOG PUPS IN THEIR ENCLOSURE BABY RACCOON DOGS IN DEN JUAN ARTURO RIVERA, DIRECTOR OF MEXICO CITY'S ZOO, TALKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JUAN ARTURO RIVERA, DIRECTOR OF MEXICO CITY'S ZOO, SAYING: "They adapted quickly (the couple of
  • Embargoed: 22nd August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9OTF6F3E9K3W487UVOY4TPOC8
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Mexico City's Chapultepec zoo has welcomed a litter of nine raccoon dog pups - seven male and two female, the second successful birth of this species in the country.
    The litter, which was born last April 26, made their public debut on Thursday (August 6).
    From birth the proud parents have provided the necessary care for their offspring, who are in good health and developing properly.
    Their current diet consists of apples, oranges, red meat, poultry and biscuits.
    The pups' parents were sent to Mexico in July 2013, through an exchange of specimens with Higashiyama Zoo in Japan.
    Chapultepec zoo is the only institution in the country to house this species.
    Fifteen members of the same family now live at the Bioma Forest warm enclosure at the zoo, where they are cared for and pampered by their veterinarians and caregivers.
    Juan Arturo Rivera, Director of Mexico City's Zoo, said the family was thriving.
    "They adapted quickly (the couple of raccoon dogs, donated to the zoo from Japan in 2013). The first year (in 2014 when they had their first litter of four pups) it was necessary to help a little with their upbringing. Their mother was very nervous, not sure how to feed but this year, the mother is fully responsible for her offspring, of nine pups. As you were able to see, the whole family of 15 is together (two parents + four offspring from 2014 and nine from 2015) and so the adaptation has been very good for this couple," Rivera said.
    Rivera added the zoo was analysing the possibility to exchange some family members with others zoos.
    "We already have a large group. It's important to think about the possibility of making some exchanges of this species with other zoos in Mexico. It is worth noting that it is the only pair (original two arrivals in 2013) of this species in Mexico, so then we'll be able to certainly find some zoos that could be interested in the offspring," Rivera added.
    Raccoons dogs, or also known as Tanuki dogs, are similar to small foxes, with a mask around their eyes similar to that of a raccoon, hence its name.
    As adults, they reach a weight of 4 to 10 kg (8.8 to 22 pounds) and measure between 50 and 68 cm (19 to 26 inches) long and they can live up to 14 years in captivity and seven years in the wild.
    Their gestation period lasts 59 to 64 days. They live in pairs or in small family groups.
    They are native to Siberia, China, Korea, Vietnam and Japan, extending their distribution, due to the introduction of the species to Russia and some countries in Europe.
    In the wild they hibernate from November to early April, depending on the weather.
    To communicate they emit a kind of a bark, are naturally omnivorous, feeding on insects, small rodents, amphibians, shellfish, poultry, eggs, plant leaves, roots and a variety of fruits.
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