Authorities in Colombia have rescued a crab-eating fox that was illegally kept as a pet by a couple of homeowners.

The operation was triggered after witnesses sighted the fox in the San Bernardino neighbourhood, in the locality of Bosa, in Colombia’s capital Bogota last month.

Aided by environmental professionals, Bogota’s Metropolitan Police rescued the fox in a video shared on their X profile (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, 6th December.

The 1.8-kilogramme-heavy animal was reportedly found uninjured and in good health.

The authorities emphasised the importance of letting wildlife remain in their natural habitats to prevent illegal wildlife trade and species suffering.

The fox’s owners face penalties for keeping the fox illegally in their home under Law 1333 of 2009.

Crab-eating foxes are native to South America, with deforestation being a primary threat to their habitat.