In an unexpected turn of events, the world’s first documented hybrid of a dog and a fox, known as ‘Dogxim,’ has tragically passed away. The demise of this remarkable creature, which was discovered following a car accident in Brazil in 2021, was confirmed in a report by The Telegraph. The hybrid was undergoing residence at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul veterinary hospital, where a DNA test had previously affirmed its unique status as the first-ever dog-fox hybrid.
The Brazilian government has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of ‘Dogxim,’ as it came to light that the animal’s keepers had not reported its passing. The specific time and cause of the hybrid’s death remain unknown, casting a shroud of mystery over this unusual creature’s untimely demise.
Having resided at the Sao Braz conservation centre since November 2021, the Pampas fox-dog hybrid had become a subject of great fascination for experts studying its unique characteristics. However, their inquiries took a somber turn when they sought recent photographs of the hybrid, only to be informed that it had perished six months earlier.
Dr. Rafael Kretschmer, a cytogeneticist who had confirmed ‘Dogxim’s’ hybrid nature, expressed deep sadness at the news. “We are very saddened by her death, especially because we lack answers regarding the exact date and the cause of her demise,” he lamented in an interview with The Telegraph. “Our discovery of her passing came about when I contacted Mantenedouro Sao Braz to request recent photographs of the hybrid,” he added.
Flavia Ferrari, a dedicated conservationist who had been closely involved with the hybrid animal, emphasized that ‘Dogxim’ had been in good health, with no discernible signs of any underlying health issues. The unexplained loss of this unique creature has left the scientific community puzzled and grieving.
Reflecting on their initial observations of ‘Dogxim,’ scientists noted their astonishment at the hybrid’s peculiar dietary preferences. Unlike conventional dogs, ‘Dogxim’ exhibited an aversion to dog food but displayed an appetite for small rodents, such as rats, further highlighting the extraordinary nature of this one-of-a-kind hybrid.
