Indian Desert Fox
Indian Desert Fox at sunset, photographed in desert scrub habitat. Chhappar, Rajasthan, India.
About the Desert Fox
The Desert Fox (Vulpes vulpes pusilla), also known as the White-footed fox, is an Asiatic subspecies of the red fox. They can be seen throughout most of the northwestern Indian subcontinent in the desert regions. Desert foxes typically inhabit sandy hills and arid scrubland and are only very rarely seen in fields. These desert specialists are much smaller than their northern counterparts and hunt primarily for gerbils, sand rats and lizards due to their comparatively barren habitat.
You can find out more about Desert Foxes here.
About Tal Chhapar:
Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Northwestern Rajasthan on the fringe of the Great Indian Desert; The Thar. This small grassland habitat is surrounded by sparse scrub and dry dusty plains peppered with salt pans. Originally a hunting ground for the Maharaja of Bikaner it was declared a sanctuary in the 1960s.
India’s Grasslands are home to some of its most endangered species, many of which are endemic. This important habitat now only exists in a handful of places in India and is sadly becoming increasingly scarce.
This stunning grassland wasn’t always the paradise seen today. After decades of neglect and encroachment by the nearby salt production the sanctuary was in a sorry state. Thanks to efforts coordinated by Mr. S.S.Poonia, the range forest officer at Tal Chhapar, over the years the grassland has been transformed. After gradually stripping away the invasive plant; Prosopis juliflora a variety of grasses were planted such as Mothiya grass, a favourite of the blackbucks, which derives its name from ‘moti’ meaning pearl, as its sweet seeds look like pearls. The final result is vast swathes of pristine grassland bustling with animal life.