Tassin-la-Demi-Lune fox cull mission ends after animal remains missing

Authorities in Tassin-la-Demi-Lune have ended a mission to cull a young fox that had been causing concern in the Trois Renards neighborhood. While rumors circulated that the animal had been killed, the Rhône Prefecture clarified that the fox was simply not found, suggesting it may have moved to another municipality or disappeared into the wild.

The fox had previously bitten several people, leading authorities to fear potential rabies contamination. This prompted a decision to cull the animal, which sparked significant local opposition. The wildlife care center L'Hirondelle and the SPA mobilized supporters, with a petition gathering over 4,400 signatures to save the animal. L'Hirondelle had proposed placing the fox in quarantine to monitor its health, arguing that the risk of rabies was near zero, but officials initially favored culling due to the density of the residential area.