Tibetan Fox

## About

The Tibetan fox.

The Tibetan fox ***(Vulpes ferrilata)*** is a small fox species native to the Tibetan plateau. The Tibetan sand fox is known for its blocky head and yellow, squinted eyes, which give the species an extremely unique appearance among other similar canines. It possesses a main coat colour of bluish-grey, accompanied by a brighter orange 'saddle' on its back, as well as orange accents on its legs and tail. A tannish cream colour is also apparent on the fox's upper face and the tip of its tail. The lightest shades of the animal's varied coat occur on the lower face and muzzle, inner ears and legs and the tip of the tail. The chest is also framed by two black streaks. The coat of the Tibetan fox is thick and fluffy, also having a dense undercoat as to survive its cold habitat. The species is stout and small, only growing to a length of 57.5-70cm (38.39-46.36in) from nose to tail and can weigh only up to 3-4kg (6.61-8.81lbs).

## Diet

Tibetan foxes hunt in male-female pairs, sharing what ever they catch. They predate ground birds, lizards, hares, rabbits and rodents. In particular, the fox preys on the black-lipped pika ***(Ochotona curzoniae)***, which is common and abundant in its range. Tibetan foxes are also known to occasionally scavenge from Tibetan antelope carcasses ***(Pantholops hodgsonii)***.

## Conservation Status

Major poisoning practices of pika in the Tibetan autonomous province have posed a threat to Tibetan foxes in the form of secondary poisoning however, this has been noted as uncommon. If this practice continues, revaluation of the Tibetan fox's status may be required. It can also be noted that the species is commonly killed by domestic dogs ***(Canis familiaris)*** in some areas, which when paired with prey shortages, could result in major population decline. These threats have not yet been classed as imminent or major and so the Tibetan fox remains a least concern species.

## Range and Population

Tibetan foxes are native to the tundra, alpine and semi-desert environments of the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau. They occur in the countries of Ladakh, India, northern Nepal, likely Bhutan and China, where the species is present in the Sichuan provinces, Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Yunnan and most famously, the Tibetan autonomous region. Tibetan foxes occur in mountainous areas at elevations of 2,500-5,300m (8,202-17,388ft), usually in steppe environments. Though the exact population of the Tibetan fox is unknown, an unreliable and poorly conducted survey from 1989 concluded that there may be around 37,000 Tibetan foxes in the Tibetan autonomous region. It is not known whether this possible population is decreasing or stable.

## Behaviour

Mating season occurs from late February to early March and pairs are likely monogamous, as they are seen hunting together and remaining close to one another. The gestation period likely lasts for 50-60 days, with a litter of 2-5 kits being born in April-May and they will not exit their den for several weeks. Both parents will raise their kits cooperatively. The kits will stay with their parents for 8-10 months and afterwards the time of weaning is unknown. Though each individual fox pair has a home range, the species is not known to defend territory or exhibit territorial behaviours and pairs commonly cross through each other's territories, despite them being defined by scent markings. Pairs are also known to hunt cooperatively, staying extremely close while doing so, which nullifies the need for long-range communication. If a fox's mate is to die, it is unknown whether it will search for another mate or not.

### Relationship with Humans

A large industry exists in areas of Tibet and Nepal for the trapping and killing of Tibetan foxes for their fur. The fur is commonly made into hats, promising the wearer an immunity to cold weather and winds. Because of this Tibetan foxes often never reach their peak lifespan of 8-10 years, typically being hunted around their fifth year.

## In Captivity

The Tibetan fox cannot be found in captivity.

## Sources

* IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/23061/46179412
* Tibetan Fox | Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vulpes\_ferrilata/