Foxes escape from Līgatne Nature Trails after deliberate damage to enclosure
Published: 31.03.2021
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At the beginning of this year, Līgatne Nature Trails experienced a sad incident. An unknown person damaged the fencing of the fox enclosure, as a result of which the foxes living in the enclosure escaped into the wild, and one of the foxes died as a result of the incident. This case highlights the issue of human responsibility towards animals and the consequences of ill-considered actions.
Both foxes at Līgatne Nature Trails—Lapsis and Henrijs—escaped from the enclosure through deliberately damaged fencing. Lapsis returned after being away, but he was weakened and had obvious health problems. Despite the veterinarian’s efforts, Lapsis could not be saved, while Henrijs’s subsequent fate remains unknown.
“If an animal that poses no danger to people escapes from its enclosure for various reasons, it is necessary to wait. Their inability to survive in the wild on their own may prompt them to return home,” explains Inta Lange, head of Līgatne Nature Trails, adding that “Henrijs’s absence from the enclosure must also be considered excessively long, so there is no longer any hope of his return.”
It is only possible to speculate about the reason or motives behind the damage to the fence—it may have been caused by ignorance, misguided love of animals, or done as a joke. Such behaviour is wrong. Wild animals kept in captivity do not know how to hunt and obtain food for themselves, nor do they have the instincts to protect themselves and avoid danger. They also regard people as friends. Lapsis’s return showed that the time he spent in the wild had caused him suffering and left him helpless. A post-mortem examination showed that the animal had been unable to provide itself with suitable food. The fox’s tragic death was a direct consequence of the damaged fence. This action cannot be justified and constitutes a criminally punishable violation of the Animal Protection Law.
Wild animals living in captivity are under human care for various reasons—they may have been found injured as young animals, they may be ill, or they may have been born in captivity, like their ancestors. The only thing people can do for these animals is to provide them with comfortable living conditions that meet animal-welfare requirements, as well as good care for the rest of their lives.
At Līgatne Nature Trails, all the animals are kept in comfortable enclosures that meet animal-welfare requirements, and each animal receives appropriate care and attention from the staff. For these animals, the enclosure is home—a place where they feel safe and are always fed. The staff of Līgatne Nature Trails are deeply distressed by what happened and hope that public understanding of animal welfare and protection will improve so that similar incidents do not happen again.
Information prepared by:
Nature Conservation Agency
Līgatne Nature Trails
Nature Education and Information Specialist
Līgatne Nature Trails
Nature Education and Information Specialist
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