From today's "Age" newspaper:
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/ ... 91991.html
A fox in socks?
By Heather Gallagher
August 22, 2003 - 1:20PM
Foxes residing in inner Melbourne have stolen masses of shoes, prompting scientists to dub their activity the Imelda Syndrome.
Investigators from the Victorian Institute of Animal Science spent two years following foxes through the suburbs, ultimately radio-collaring 50 of the cunning beasts for a three-year study.
Study leader Clive Marks said Melbourne had one of the world's largest urban populations of foxes with an average of six per square kilometre.
It was one of their number that gave the game away, leading scientists to a large pile of assorted footwear strewn along the banks of an urban creek.
Initially, Mr Marks disregarded the odd assortment which ranged from a size 10 Hush Puppy to a 1970's style platform shoe.
"The discovery was put down to one of the many bizarre discoveries that you invariably make in the suburbs at 3am in the morning if you have co-opted a fox as a tour guide," he told Australasian Science magazine.
But later when shoes went missing regularly from a Salvation Army retirement village in the eastern suburbs, foxes were again found to be the culprits.
He said an inexplicable theft of odd shoes had been going on for months, with no possible motive.
"The mystery was solved when the culprit was caught by the manager, bowling shoe in mouth," Mr Marks said.
"Searching the usual kinds of fox haunts surrounding the village, some of the stolen shoes were recovered not 200 metres from the crime scene. A close inspection revealed the unmistakable imprint of fox teeth in each."
Mr Marks, who now runs Nocturnal Wildlife Research Ltd, said the Imelda Syndrome - named after former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos who was world famous for her massive shoe collection - remained a mystery.
But while he has been unable to explain the animal attraction to leather, he believes there is a connection with a strong sense of smell.
"They're a species that interpret the world through olfaction," he said.
"You could say we don't smell the same language."
The foxes also have a penchant for gloves - pinched from wharfies at Web Dock - and golf balls.
Mr Marks is currently studying different methods of fox population control, including the possible use of contraceptive agents and humane extermination.
- AAP
