CORUMBAÍBA, Brazil — The hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus) is a small canid found only in Brazil. Although commonly seen running across the open grasslands of the Brazilian Cerrado, surprisingly little is known about the species.
Researchers Fernanda Cavalcanti and Frederico Lemos have spent the past two decades working to change that. Their shared passion for the elusive fox not only fueled their scientific pursuits but also blossomed into a love story.
As a couple, they embark on research expeditions across central Brazil with their team, tracking and capturing hoary foxes. They equip the animals with radio transmitters and gather crucial data on their behavior, health, ecological needs, and, most importantly, the many threats they face.
Canines are among the most frequently run over mammals in Brazil, they are also affected by diseases transmitted by domestic animals and face habitat loss and fragmentation, which is mainly associated with agribusiness. This particular region of Brazil where they live is known for being predominantly an area of exotic pasture for raising cattle, and now is very quickly transforming into areas of soybean monoculture. The couple of researchers wants to understand how this change is impacting the foxes.
Mongabay joined them on their latest expedition to uncover the mysteries of this graceful and little-known animal.
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Banner image: Hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus). Image ©Augusto Gomes.
Transcript
Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.How could an animal that I saw so often
while I was in the field be so little known?
People are very far from understanding
what a fox really is.
It’s been 22 years of scientific work
related to the knowledge and conservation of the species.
I fell in love with foxes 20 years ago
and I fell in love with Fer 17 years ago.
It’s been many years of walking together,
watching foxes
and being passionate about foxes.
The hoary fox
is a South American canid,
exclusive from Brazil,
a small-sized canid.
We study the hoary fox
in what we call agroecosystems,
that is, agricultural or farming environments,
but which still maintain considerable levels
of biodiversity, of wild species,
interacting with domestic animals and people.
We are heading toward the 10th capture campaign.
So, our group is very interested in understanding
how long a hoary fox lives.
What does it eat?
What are the threats to the species?
And the interactions it has with the environment.
The information we gather through capture and monitoring
is essential for the conservation of the species.
Every time we capture a fox,
we weigh it, measure it,
collect blood samples, ticks and fleas,
and put a GPS collar on it
to monitor its movement.
We are creating an unprecedented database.
This way, we know more about the behavior,
reproductive cycle, and feeding habits of the species.
We are getting to know this species in depth.
It’s an extraordinary animal.
It’s important for people to understand
that the hoary fox is part of the environment
and that it plays a role in the ecosystem.
This is fundamental for its conservation.
I believe that understanding generates empathy.
And empathy generates conservation.
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