The fox who wanted to be free

This fox named Máša has really very interesting fate.
Do you remember people who saved two silver foxes from a fur farm and they also saved baby red fox Terezka? Years ago, they saved also Máša, when she was a baby. They rised her and she later lived in a cage in Mstišov game preserve (current home of Terezka) with a male called Ouško ("Little ear"). Unfortunately, Ouško got an illness which is mortal for canines and died. My pals were devastated and they were also worried about Máša's health - and yes, when they checked her temperature, sho had fever, suffering from the same illness. Those people, who are not rich at all, paid a lot of money to rise Máša back to health, although everybody thought they were crazy, as foxes as considered just "pest animals" in my country.
Well, Máša survived.
Her owners decided to give her a nice home in ZOO Děčín, which is close to them and they would be able to visit her very often.
Máša got very nice natural enclosure, but remained rather small (probably because of her illness) and grumpy.
Then they got a young male Tomášek to her and Máša changed, being much more friendly and nice.
Next spring they had some kits.
But later, Máša managed to escape from the enclosure.
Those people who rised her managed to capture her, bringing her back to the exhibit. She was furious, jumping on the fence so much that she injured her paw a bit.

And recently, she managed to escape AGAIN
She left Tomášek and her kits in the exhibit and disappeared.
Those people were very worried about her fate, because they could easily imagine myslivci would shoot such a tame fox with pleasure.
But then it appeared Máša was still in a ZOO - free, but roaming in the area of the park.
So right now, those people who know her are in touch with her. She lives in a ZOO, furtunately not caring about other animals. She learned how to catch wild mice and comes to visit Tomášek and her daughters.
And she allows those people who rised her to feed her from hand - she just does not want to get back to the enclosure.

I do not know the end of the story. She might be shot, run over by car... captured again or she might just leave the ZOO, having absolutely new life.
I just like her interesting life
The guy who rised her told me how happy and strong she looks when he hand-feeds her. That she is obviously happy she is free. I hope she will be clever enough to stay in the safety of the ZOO.

Nice and interesting, right?
Good luck, Máša, the free fox!


EDIT / 8th of July 2013: Máša is still a free fox, she lives in the area of the ZOO but as a free animal she still allows the guy who saved her life to feed her from hand, but she learned how to hunt on her own. But she has trust in her human friend and they both stay close to each other!

EDIT / 2014: Máša lost a paw. We don't know if she got into illegal trap or simply somehow hurt herself, but she manages to survive in the wild with three legs.

EDIT / 2016: Máša can't be seen anymore. She is either dead or she left the place. But her life was one big adventure!


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