The Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata) also known as the Tibetan fox or sand fox, is a type of fox of medium size that highlights its voluminous tail, which is quite large in relation to its compact body. But beyond their appearance, these canids draw attention for their remarkable ability to adapt, being able to live in places with altitudes higher than 5,000 meters above sea level in the Tibet region
Origins of the Tibetan Fox
As its very name betrays, the Tibetan fox is a small canine native to the Tibetan plateaus of East Asia, which extend across the territory of China, Nepal, India, Bhutan and the autonomous region of Tibet. This region is considered the highest in our entire planet, with an average altitude of 4,900 meters above sea level. It is also home to the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest, which belongs to the Himalayas and reaches an altitude of 8,848 meters above sea level.
The population of Tibetan foxes is concentrated on the plateaus of China, India and Nepal, mainly in the steppe and semi-desert regionswith altitudes from 3,500 to 5,300 meters above sea level. They are rarely observed at altitudes below 2,500 meters above sea level and do not adapt to regions covered by dense vegetation, such as forests.
Despite being an ancient animal, it is still little known because it is limited to a region that is difficult to access and sparsely populated. In addition, its more shy and reserved character makes contact with humans in its natural habitat difficult. However, in recent years, the Tibetan fox has gained some popularity on the Internet thanks to some memes that made reference to its particular "inquisitive" gaze.
Physical Characteristics of the Tibetan Fox
Although not as small as the arctic fox, the Tibetan fox is characterized by its compact and robust body, with muscular well developed. Adult individuals usually measure between 80 and 110 cm from their snout to the tip of their tail, with no great sexual dimorphism. The average body weight for this species can vary between 4 and 5.5 kg, with females being somewhat lighter than males.
Another outstanding feature of the Tibetan fox is its bushy tail of abundant fur, which can measure between 30 and 40 cm long, representing almost half of its total body length. In addition, this type of fox generally has a white tail tip, making it easy to identify.
Complementing its basic morphological characteristics, we must mention its noticeably narrow snout, ears and short ears. It also highlights a dense and abundant coat that is made up of soft, medium-length hairs. This mantle is mostly reddish on the back, neck, snout and legs, and becomes more grayish on the sides of its body, as well as on the thighs, in the buttocks and cheeks. Their ears are strikingly patterned, exhibiting tan or grayish hues in the evening behind, while their interior and base are mostly white.
Tibetan Fox Behavior
Unlike other species of foxes, the Tibetan fox maintains mostly diurnal habits, usually hunting almost always in periods with good numbers of natural light. In general, they are solitary individuals that live and hunt individually, with the exception of the reproductive seasons and during the raising of their cubs, when they usually hunt in pairs.
These little canids are active year-round, but their metabolism naturally slows down a bit in winter to conserve energy and conserve heat. However, the Tibetan fox is not one of the animals that hibernate, remaining active even when the intense cold takes over the Tibetan pots.
Regarding its nutrition, the Tibetan fox is a carnivorous animal that can display opportunistic behavior when food becomes scarce in its habitat. These foxes are good hunters and their main prey is the pika, which is especially active during the day. They can also catch a wide variety of animals such as Rodents, Himalayan Marmots, Chinese Moles, Snow Lizards, Woolly Hares, Tibetan Partridges, Adams Sparrows, terrestrial tits and horned larks.
A very interesting fact about the diet of the Tibetan fox is the commensal relationship it maintains with the brown bear. These large terrestrial mammals dig up pikas with their powerful claws and the Tibetan foxes take the opportunity to catch those that escape them or those that remain on the surface when the bears leave. In times of food scarcity, mainly during winter, the Tibetan fox may also feed on carrion left behind by other predators, eventually consuming musk deer, Tibetan antelope and Himalayan blue goats.
Tibetan Fox Reproduction
Tibetan foxes are usually monogamous animals and faithful to their partner, with whom they can stay together practically all year round (even outside the reproductive period). Although they are usually solitary when hunting, it is also possible to see pairs pursuing their prey together, mainly during the breeding season or when they need to feed their cubs.
Like all canids, Tibetan foxes are viviparous animals, that is, fertilization and development of the offspring take place inside the womb. After mating, females will experience a gestation period of 50 to 60 days, at the end of which they will give birth to a small litter of 2 to 4 pups in the safe burrow that it builds and protects together with the male. Tibetan foxes generally build their burrows on low slopes or at the base of rocks, although they can also take advantage of ancient shorelines in Tibetan flower pots.
The males actively participate in raising the young and are also responsible for bringing food to keep the female and her cubs well nourished and safe. The cubs will stay with their parents until they are 8 or 10 months old, when they are ready to survive on their own and start forming their own mates.
Tibetan Fox Conservation Status
The Tibetan fox is currently classified as a species of "least concern", according to the Red List of Threatened Species of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). In addition to not having many natural predators, these canids also maintain a reserved behavior and rarely enter into conflicts or fights that could harm their well-being.
Generally, they have very little contact with humans and tend to flee quickly when they identify a strange presence in their territory. Therefore, having a fox as a pet is not a good idea, also considering that it is a wild animal that can be easily affected by stress and transmit certain zoonoses to humans. In addition, possession is prohibited in most countries
