Zoo Knoxville Welcomes One Of The Largest Bat-Eared Fox Litters Born In US Zoos

Zoo Knoxville is celebrating a rare and exciting arrival with the birth of six bat-eared fox kits to resident foxes Fern and Motsumi.

Born on April 30, 2025, the litter — comprising two males and four females — is one of the largest bat-eared fox births in managed care in the United States.

The parents, Fern (father) and Motsumi (mother), pronounced mot-SUE-mee, are no strangers to parenting. This marks their second litter, following the birth of their first kit, Ziggy, in 2024. According to zoo staff, the pair has taken to their roles with instinctive dedication.

“This is one of the largest litters of bat-eared foxes born in human care in the country, and we are thrilled with how well all six kits are doing,” said Terry Canon, Head Curator of Carnivores. “Fern and Motsumi are showing outstanding parental instincts. They are working closely together to care for and protect their young.”

The kits have already passed an initial wellness check with the veterinary team and are progressing well, having recently begun eating solid food. Zoo staff are minimizing human interaction to allow the family to bond naturally, but guests may catch early glimpses of the young foxes during the cooler parts of the day.

Bat-eared foxes (Otocyon megalotis) are native to parts of eastern and southern Africa and play a crucial ecological role, particularly in controlling insect populations. An individual bat-eared fox can consume more than a million termites annually. While not currently classified as endangered, the species faces mounting threats from habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.

Zoo Knoxvilles conservation efforts aim to protect species like the bat-eared fox through education and habitat support. The birth of this litter highlights the success of those programs, contributing to both public awareness and species sustainability.