Heartwarming footage shows orphaned fox cubs being released back into the wild, thanks to the care of Kibworth animal hospital
Heartwarming footage shows three orphaned fox cubs being released back into the wild four months after they became trapped in a small gap between two houses.
The young foxes have been cared for by Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital in Kibworth where staff nursed them back to full health.
Firefighters were forced to smash through the brickwork on a garage in Leicester after the 12-week-old cubs got stuck between two walls on Easter Sunday.
Rescue teams were called to Letchworth Road after receiving reports from neighbours saying they could hear a fox crying in distress.
Crews were stunned to discover three young cubs wedged in a 6ins (15cm) gap before lifting them to safety.
The trio were set free all together at an undisclosed location last week.
Sharing footage on social media, the Kibworth hospital said: "The three cubs have been in our care, learning all the essential skills needed for life back in the wild - enjoying digging and searching for their food, alongside lots of enrichment.
"Last week, it was time for their release. Here, they are being support fed for a while until they have adjusted to life back in the wild!"
The cubs had run down a small gap between two houses, but the gap had continued to narrow.
One of them had to be given oxygen therapy, using a specialist mask for small animals.