Ultra rare black fox spotted walking UK streets and public urged to call RSPCA
Members of the public are being urged to call the RSPCA if they spot a rare black fox that has been skulking around the streets in south Wales.
Foxes are usually pretty elusive in the first place - unless you live in London, where they apparently have no fear of hanging out on basically every street corner - but seeing one that isn't the usual orange colour is an even more rare sighting.
It might look like a cat from a distance, but the unusual black creature with pointy ears and a bushy tail is in fact a fox - and a sly one, at that.
The RSPCA is on the lookout for the animal after it was seen in two Vale of Glamorgan towns in Wales, but despite officers' best efforts, they weren't able to locate it when they started their search this morning (19 April).
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A few locals have shared posts about the fox online after they managed to capture photos of it, with Nik Venn sharing a picture with the caption: "This picture was from Monday morning [17 April] on Bendrick Road, fox heading towards the docks."
Locals said the fox was seen 'having a scratch' and wandering off when it'd 'had his grub', BBC News reports.
According to the RSPCA, the fox is also known as a 'silver fox' - yes, we apparently do get the thirsty compliment from an actual animal - and they're exactly the same as the wild red foxes we have here in the UK, just with different colouration.
"Traditionally, they were bred for their fur but are now sometimes kept as exotic pets," a spokesperson explained, per ITV News.
"Foxes are wild animals with very specific needs that are no different to those of foxes living in the wild and they require specialist care.
"Even the most experienced fox experts have had difficulty keeping adult foxes successfully. Therefore, the RSPCA does not advise or condone keeping foxes as pets."
The RSPCA is asking people to get in touch if they spot the fox, stressing the one seen in Wales was 'not successfully contained' as of today.
Officers 'currently don't know where he/she is', but added that they hope it is 'okay'. If anyone spots the fox and notices that it's injured, they are being urged to call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999, quoting reference: 01052661.
The fox is one of about 357,000 foxes in Britain, according to the RSPCA, which adds that fox populations in urban areas have increased over the last 20 years.
Emily Brown