Overview
- A two-year-old red fox that stowed away on a car transporter from Southampton arrived in New York in February and was taken into quarantine by the Bronx Zoo after customs officers found him among cargo.
- Veterinarians diagnosed the fox with French heartworm, a parasite that infects blood vessels in the lungs of canids and is common in Europe but rare in the United States.
- On May 22 the zoo said repeat testing confirmed the infection was cleared after a managed treatment plan that used three different deworming medications and multiple follow-up diagnostics.
- Staff reported clear physical improvement during treatment, including a weight gain from about 5.1 kg to 6.2 kg and a fuller, shinier coat, and the fox—now named Basil—remains off public view while officials decide his long-term placement.
- Officials warn the incident shows how commercial shipping can move wildlife across borders and requires coordinated veterinary care and quarantine to protect local animal health and guide welfare and placement decisions.