Stowaway fox leaves quarantine in New York

A fox which stowed away on a cargo ship from Southampton to New York has completed quarantine after receiving treatment at the Bronx Zoo.

The two-year-old male red fox, now named Basil, was found among cargo when the vessel arrived at the Port of New York and New Jersey in February.

The Bronx Zoo said the animal had been diagnosed with French heartworm, a parasite more commonly found in Europe which can cause severe respiratory disease.

Veterinary staff said the fox had shown a "dramatic improvement" during treatment and was now in good health.

Basil was taken into the care of the zoo on 19 February after being discovered by US customs officers aboard a car transporter ship which had travelled from Southampton.

The Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the Bronx Zoo, said the parasite infects blood vessels in the lungs and is rare in the United States.

A spokeswoman said Basil underwent a month-long treatment programme involving three different types of deworming medication.

"Following treatment, veterinarians repeated diagnostic testing multiple times to confirm the infection has now been successfully cleared," she said.

"Throughout his treatment, Basil showed significant improvement.

"He gained weight, developed a fuller and shinier coat, and demonstrated strong overall health during follow-up examinations."

The fox weighed about 11lb (5.1kg) when he arrived at the zoo and now weighs nearly 14lb (6.2kg), staff said.

Craig Piper, interim director, said: "Basil has done exceptionally well since arriving at the Bronx Zoo.

"We are very pleased with his recovery and continued progress since his long journey across the Atlantic."

The zoo said it was still assessing a suitable long-term home for the fox.

A spokesperson for Associated British Ports Southampton previously joked the animal had "booked itself a transatlantic crossing".

The case came weeks after a stowaway raccoon discovered on a cargo vessel in Southampton was put down because of concerns it could be carrying diseases including rabies.