A rare animal has been spotted roaming the streets of a Welsh town. A black fox, that are normally domesticated, has been pictured in Barry and Sully.
The sightings have lead to the RSPCA condemning the ownership of wild animals as they warn that keeping them as pets is extremely difficult.
Black foxes, are officially known as silver foxes, with some people will breed only black litters to make totally black foxes, and there are currently no restrictions in the UK on breeding or owning them.
The RSPCA has confirmed it is aware the fox was roaming the streets of Barry and Sully in South Wales
A spokesperson said: “We are aware that a silver fox has been spotted in Barry and hope this fox is okay. Silver foxes are the same species as the red foxes we have living wild in the UK but with different colouration.
"Traditionally, they were bred for their fur, but are now sometimes kept as exotic pets."
Silver foxes need "specialist care" and experts at the RSPCA say even experienced handlers struggle to keep adult foxes as pets.
The spokesperson added: "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 advises anyone thinking of getting any kind of exotic pet to fully research the animal’s specific needs before making a decision.
“Exotic pets can live a long time, grow to a large size, and need to be taken to an exotics vet if they become ill, which can be expensive."
Currently, the whereabouts of the animal are unknown, though a witness who photographed it said they last saw it heading towards the docks in Barry.
Posting on Facebook, Nik Venn said: "This picture was from Monday morning [17 April] on Bendrick Road, fox heading towards the docks."
The RSPCA said it should not be contacted in relation to the fox unless it's found injured due to a lack of resources, meaning it was prioritising calls of neglect and cruelty.
The charity said it received about 84,000 calls to its cruelty line every month. About 1,500 of "those are about intentional cruelty," it said.
A spokesperson said: “If the fox is injured and present please call the RSPCA emergency line on 0300 1234 999 - quoting reference: 01052661. For further information about exotic pets, please visit the RSPCA’s website.”
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