A young urban fox was photographed play-biting a companion's tail during a bout of roughhousing in a central London cemetery, in images captured by vet and photographer Izzy Davis. The lighthearted encounter, in which the ambushed fox let out a startled squeal, highlights how foxes have become a familiar and increasingly bold presence in Britain's capital, thriving alongside humans in an urban environment.

Davis, a 28-year-old small animal vet from Wantage, Oxfordshire, said she anticipated the moment after noticing one fox intently watching the other before creeping up to nip its tail. London is home to an estimated 10,000 foxes, according to the London Wildlife Trust, and the species is thought to have inhabited Britain for around 330,000 years. Experts from the Horniman Museum & Gardens note that city living is reshaping foxes physically and behaviourally, with urban foxes developing shorter snouts than rural ones due to scavenging habits, while the mental demands of navigating traffic, bins and food sources may be making them smarter and more adaptable.