The captivating tale of Rambo has captured the attention of both wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists. This fox, residing in Australia’s Piliga Sport Reserve, has managed to elude capture and relocation efforts for a remarkable three years, causing significant challenges in the transportation process for other animals.
Despite nearly 3,000 attempts to bait and numerous camera traps, Rambo has skillfully evaded being photographed. The primary objective is to relocate him in order to facilitate the presence of the rare marmots within the reserve.
Conservationists have devoted a staggering 465 hours in search of Rambo, employing tracking dogs, but even they have been unable to pick up his scent. This has resulted in three weeks of aimless searches within the vast woods of the reserve.
As the sole carnivore in the northwestern province of Piliga Nature Reserve, Rambo has thrived due to the decline of other fox populations and the availability of abundant food and water sources. Currently, he is confined to a 5,800-hectare fenced area, designed to serve as a safe haven for Australia’s unique marsupials. However, Rambo’s presence has hindered the introduction of these new residents.
Despite successfully relocating other animals into the fenced area, Rambo continues to pose a challenge. He regularly makes appearances on the 97 cameras scattered throughout the forest, seemingly taunting the observers to capture his image. In early 2021, conservationists discovered that Rambo was not only aware of the camera locations but actively evading them. Encounters with this elusive fox have been limited to only two instances, as Rambo has become a master of evasion and disguise.