Animal Attack: Fox Breaks into Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C., Kills 25 Flamingos

A fox breached an outdoor bird habitat at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., killing 25 flamingos in what local authorities reportedly deemed to be an upsetting loss.

Amongst the fatalities, a Northern pintail duck was killed and three other flamingos were injured.

Dead on Arrival

Zoo employees arrived at their worksite on the morning of Monday, May 2, only to find the dead birds in their enclosure.

The workers also saw the fox who eventually escaped from the habitat, as reportedly claimed by local officials.

According to Brandie Smith, Smithsonian's director of National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, the incident is considered to be a "heartbreaking loss" for us and for every other animal advocate and enthusiast, as cited by NBC News.

The current whereabouts of the fox are unknown, and there were no immediate reports that local authorities are conducting a search operation for the canine perpetrator.

Investigation and Measures

Following the animal attack, officials relocated the surviving flamingos indoors, while the ducks were transferred into a covered outdoor space.

Prior to the incident, an inspection was conducted on the afternoon of Sunday, May 1, and found no discrepancies in the area.

However, authorities performed another inspection on Monday and found that there was a hole the size of a softball in a heavy-duty metal mesh around the outdoor yard, according to officials, as cited by NBC News.

As an investigation into the incident is underway, the said metal mesh has been fixed and live traps have been placed around the zoo's yard.

Furthermore, traps with a digital camera and infrared sensors have also been set up to monitor nighttime activities.

The zoo's habitat called the Bird House and its surrounding areas are being renovated and closed to the public until further notice.

First Reported Attack

Also referred to as the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute or Smithsonian National Zoological Park, the Smithsonian National Zoo is one of the oldest wildlife parks in the United States.

Established in 1889, it is under the ownership of the Smithsonian Institute, the largest museum and research complex in the world.

The zoo is currently situated in the Rock Creek Park area of the nation's capital and contains approximately 1,800 animals of more than 360 species.

Since the flamingo exhibit in the 1970s, there were no predator breaches reported until this week's incident, which has been considered to be the first animal attack on the flamingos for more than four decades.

Fox Diet and Habitat

Despite the devastation caused by the fox attack, the incident is not entirely surprising since flamingos are also part of a fox's diet.

According to the UK-based conservation charity Woodland Trust, foxes, despite being omnivores, have a diverse diet, ranging between birds, earthworms, frogs, rabbits, and rodents.

In addition, there are instances where foxes scavenge for "human food" in urban areas.

The natural habitats of foxes are mostly in rural areas such as farmland, woodland, and wetland habitats say the organization.