A Fennec fox, which is found in the wild in North Africa. Photo; SCMP Pictures
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https://scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1925776/disney-box-office-smash-zootopia-sparks-sale-foxes-pets-china China
Disney box-office smash ‘Zootopia’ sparks sale of foxes as pets in China, says report
A still from the movie “Zootopia”, which broke a one-day record for box-office takings for an animated film in China. Photo: AP
The popularity of the Disney animated movie Zootopia has led some people in China to cash in by trying to sell foxes as pets, according to a newspaper report.
Adverts for Red foxes and Fennec foxes have been posted online with one seller asking 30,000 yuan (HK$36,000) for two of the animals, the Huaxi Metropolis Daily said.
Two of the main characters in the movie set in a city populated by animals are from the two breeds of animals.
A seller from Chongqing in southwest China is offering two Fennec foxes for 30,000 yuan, the report said.
A Red fox is on sale on another forum for 2,000 yuan, according to the article.
A parent from Beijing also tried to buy a Fennec fox at their daughter’s request after she watched the movie, according to the report.
Fennec foxes, the world’s smallest fox with distinctive large ears, are found in the Sahara and elsewhere in North Africa.
Importing and selling the species in China is controlled by strict regulations.
Red foxes are a protected animal in China, but some trading is legally allowed.
Zootopia broke the single-day, box-office takings record for an animated film in China earlier this month, grossing about 170 million yuan, the China Daily reported.