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Why do only some wild animals get on with humans?

National Geographic magazine subscription holders can read about why some wild animals can't be domesticated.

If you've got a National Geographic magazine subscription, the latest issue has a feature about the domestication of wild animals.

Only some get on well with humans and the reason for this is in the animals' genes, National Geographic magazine reports.

Evan Ratliff, writing for National Geographic magazine, visited Novosibirsk in southern Siberia to find out about whether wild animals can get on with humans.

The writer visited the only population of domesticated silver foxes in the whole world, where there are several hundred of the critters all in one place.

"These foxes treat any human as a potential companion, a behaviour that is the product of arguably the most extraordinary breeding experiment ever conducted," Ratliff wrote in National Geographic magazine.

More than 50 years ago, one scientist started the experiment, with the intention of "re-creating the evolution of wolves into dogs".

The most amenable to human contact were bred in each stage of the experiment, reports National Geographic magazine, which has led to the marvel in existence today - foxes completely unafraid of humans.

Silver foxes, also known as Sibfoxes, are now bred for sale in the US and North America.

Subscribe and save on a National Geographic magazine subscription today.

Posted by Ben BroadhurstADNFCR-2767-ID-800420722-ADNFCR

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