A fox was found lying in the road in Leatherhead, Surrey after being severely injured by a hit and run. On the way to The Wildlife Aid Foundation’s (WAF) veterinary hospital, the fox had several fits. Upon arrival at the hospital, she had to be sedated in order to be properly examined. It was only then that doctors discovered she was pregnant with six little fox cubs.
The plan was to get the mother well enough to let nature take its course for the birth, in hopes to release the whole family back into the wild together.
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But, after one cub was born naturally, the mother, who was simultaneously showing signs of severe neurological trauma, abandoned it, and it died. That’s when doctors decided the best course of action in order save the rest of the babies.
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The nurses performed an emergency c-section.
It was a difficult decision, because it meant that the mother would have to be put to sleep after the c-section was over. If she were ever to give birth naturally after a c-section, she would most likely suffer severe complications.
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It was the first ever cesarian section to be performed on a fox for this very reason.
So far, the five other babies are doing well, and will be hand-reared by the staff at WAF until they are six months old.
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This is believed to be the first litter of foxes born in 2015 – as it’s a few months ahead of when foxes usually give birth.
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Hopefully, these guys will power through the next few months so that they can enjoy the life that they were meant to live.
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If you aren’t squeamish, and think you can handle footage of a c-section, have a look at the video below. If you are squeamish, skip to 1:10 for the cuteness.
(source Daily Mail)
While it’s very sad that the mother couldn’t be saved, at least her babies will get a fighting chance at life. They’re in good hands over at the Wildlife Aid Foundation, as they’ve already accomplished the incredible task of bringing the adorable teeny guys into the world. We wish them the best of luck!
