50,000 foxes expected to die in Finland

50,000 foxes on fur farms in western Finland could die because of contaminated feed, researchers said today.

"The death toll is rising, and we may end up with 40,000 or 50,000 dead animals,” said Ilpo Polonen, from the Finnish Fur Breeders’ Association.

"We are losing hope. It seems that all the animals who have eaten the contaminated food will die,” Polonen said.

Already 20,000 foxes and hundreds of minks have died after eating contaminated feed last Friday.

Feed from the same batch has been distributed to 40 fur farms in the region.

Researchers said they do not know what contaminated the feed, and have not ruled out sabotage.

Vetts expected to identify the toxin by the end of the week, they said.

Finland is one the largest producers of fox fur in the world. More than 2,000 people make a living from fur farming in the country. Last year 1.7 million fox pelts were sold, mainly abroad.