The Fox says “привет!”
Animal enthusiasts
the world over are excited about an astounding new breakthrough in the
domestication of the Siberian Fox.
An experiment,
which was founded by scientist Dmitri Belyaev around the year 1959 as an attempt to explain the differences in fur between
wolves and dogs, has succeeded in producing a relatively large species of the
fluffy creatures with the benign temperaments of many modern pets... Sort of a
hybrid between cats and dogs. They can
be taught tricks and commands (and, if purchased, will almost certainly come equipped
with prior knowledge of the basics, to be dictated in your favorite Russian
dialect). They eat anything from grain-free dog food to fruits and vegetables,
or the occasional small rodent. The only real remnant of their past life is
that they evidently hold-on to a ‘puppy-like’ energy, never outgrowing their
energetic whims to play and chew.
On a more scientific
note, the study is famed for supporting an “interplay between behavioral genetics
and development”, which will assist future scientists in deducing how already domesticated animals
(such as pigs and cattle) evolved from their ancestors. The foxes experienced behavioral, morphological, and physiological changes
as a result of their breeding and upkeep, resulting in a desire to socialize
with humans, offspring increasingly prone to floppy ears, changes to the tail
length, and a loss of the distinct “musky” odor that would typically label them
as wild.
Anyone interested in purchasing one of these rare
Russian foxes can do so for the bargain price of $8900 (shipping and handling
included). They will, however, be sterilized before leaving the country to
ensure the existence of only one genetically tame line.
Check it out, if
you’re interested:
http://scienceblogs.com/thoughtfulanimal/2010/06/14/monday-pets-the-russian-fox-st/
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