Fennec foxes mate for life. Captive animals reach sexual maturity at around nine months and mate between January and April. Female fennec foxes are in estrus for an average of 24 hours and usually breed once per year; the copulation tie lasts up to two hours and 45 minutes. Gestation usually lasts between 50 and 52 days, though sometimes up to 63 days. After mating, the male becomes very aggressive and protects the female, and provides her with food during pregnancy and lactation. Females give birth between March and June to a litter of one to four pups that open their eyes after 8 to 11 days. Both female and male care for the pups. They communicate by barking, purring, yapping and squeaking. Pups remain in the family even after a new litter is born. The pups are weaned at the age of 61 to 70 days. Adults rear pups until they are around 16 to 17 weeks old. The average lifespan in the wild is 10 years. The oldest captive male fennec fox was 14 years old, and the oldest female 13 years.
fennec foxes mate for life captive animals reach sexual maturity at around nine months and mate between january and april female fennec foxes are in estrus for an average of 24 hours and usually breed once per year; the copulation tie lasts up to two hours and 45 minutes gestation usually lasts between 50 and 52 days though sometimes up to 63 days after mating the male becomes very aggressive and protects the female and provides her with food during pregnancy and lactation females give birth between march and june to a litter of one to four pups that open their eyes after 8 to 11 days both female and male care for the pups they communicate by barking purring yapping and squeaking pups remain in the family even after a new litter is born the pups are weaned at the age of 61 to 70 days adults rear pups until they are around 16 to 17 weeks old the average lifespan in the wild is 10 years the oldest captive male fennec fox was 14 years old and the oldest female 13 years