J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2015: Vol.

29 (2):275-277
(275) ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

FEEDING HABIT OF DESERT FOX (VULPES VULPES PUSILLA) IN THE DESERT

NATIONAL PARK OF RAJASTHAN, INDIA
B. R. Jaipal
Department of Zoology, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
[E-mail: brjaipal.jnvu@gmail.com]

Received: 01-05-2015 Revised: 02-06-2015 Accepted: 08-07-2015

Desert fox (Vulpes vulpes pusilla) is distributed in western desert areas of Indian subcontinent. It is listed with schedule-II of Wild
Life (Protection) Act, 1972. In recent decades, it was a very common animal in the desert but now its number has declined to an
alarming state. This omnivorous animal feeds upon insects, scorpion, lizards, snakes, birds, eggs, rodents, seeds and fruits of
Ziziphus nummularia, Salvadora persica, Prosopis cineraria, Capparis decidua, Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus, Grewia tenax
etc. A study was conducted on its feeding behavior using scat analysis technique during 2008-2012. A total of 100 scat samples
were collected from three study areas at Desert National Park (Sanctuary) i.e. Sudasari, Khuri and Kanoi. These samples were
analyzed using direct observation technique in laboratory. About 58% parts were found to be plant material which included seeds,
grasses, leaves, seeds of fruits of Ziziphus nummularia, Salvadora persica, Prosopis cineraria, Capparis decidua, and Prosopis
juliflora. In summers the plant contents were higher than the winters. 49% scat samples were found to contain hairs followed by
27% containing feathers of birds and 17% with bones of mammals, birds and reptiles, whereas, 7% was found containing romance
of Arthropods. A need has been concluded for conserving this endangered species by checking its habitat loss so that eco-
balance of prey-predator relationship would be maintained in the desert.

The Thar Desert is quite densely human populated desert as
compared to other deserts of the world. It is dominantly a
sandy and hot desert located in western part of India and south-
east of Pakistan. In India, it spreads over four states namely -
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab but 61% of the Thar
Desert lies in north-west part of Rajasthan. It lies between 22
30 to 32 05 N latitude and 68 30 to 76 longitude. The area is
characterized by low humidity, extreme of diurnal and annual
temperatures, in summer this may rise to 500C (during noon)
whereas in winter it may falls to -30C (during night). Average
rainfall varies from 100 to 500 mm and rainy days are hardly 6-
10 only during the monsoon. In summers, wind blows with its
full velocity of 27 km/ hour.
only which includes water availability also. Therefore, the food
of fox consist mostly the things available nearby. In past
decades, it was a very common animal in the desert but it is
evident through studies that there is considerable decline of
desert fox during recent past due to habitat loss and Sarcoptic
mange, whereas, in DNP area it is also hunted for food (meat)
by Jogi tribe4-5. The distribution pattern of desert fox depends
upon its food which is composed of desert dwelling small
mammals and certain fruits of desert plants. There are number
of noted causes for the declining population of Desert fox one
of them is its food scarcity. The present study is focused on
food composition and the study was conducted using scat
analysis technique during 2008-2012.

Desert Fox (Vulpes vulpes pusilla) is a sub species of red fox MATERIAL AND METHODS
which occurs in Baluchistan, Rawalpindi, Rajputana, Kutch,
The Study Area: The study was conducted in Desert National
southern Iran and Irak1. It is the smallest and lightest of all
Park Sanctuary (DNP) which spreads over Barmer and
three red foxes found in India2. In Rajasthan, its occurrence is
Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan. It lies on the border area of
mostly in peripheral areas of the clustered villages of desert.
Pakistan and India at 25 47 to 26 46 Northern latitude and 70
The distribution pattern of desert fox greatly depends upon its
15 to 70 45 Eastern longitude. The eastern boundary of DNP
food availability.
has village Khuri and Harsani; in western Dhanana and Miajlar
Studies made earlier declared its omnivorous behaviour3. The village; in north Sam village and in south Munabao and Gadra
Desert fox is an opportunist and nocturnal animal which prefers Road.
to live near human habitations for its survival, as in desert the
The study was carried out in three different sites namely,
most conducive atmosphere is found near human habitations
NAAS Rating (2016)-4.20
 FEEDING HABIT OF DESERT FOX (276)

Table-1.Analysis of remains of food material (%) in scat of Desert Fox

Seeds/ plant
Site Season Scats Hairs Bones Feathers Arthro-podes Other
material
S 15 46.67 20.00 33.33 6.67 66.67 20.0
Sudasari
W 25 40.00 20.00 24.00 8.00 32.00 16.0
S 12 66.67 16.67 33.33 8.33 83.33 8.33
Khuri
W 20 50.00 15.00 25.00 0.00 60.00 10.00
S 15 53.33 13.33 26.67 13.33 86.67 13.33
Kanoi
W 13 46.15 15.38 23.08 7.69 38.46 15.38

Summer season Winter season

Hair Hair
100 70.00
Bones Bones
90 Feathers Feathers
60.00
Arthropods Arthropods
80
Plant material Plant material
70 50.00
Other Other
(Occurrence)

(Occurrence)
60
40.00
50
30.00
40

30 20.00

20
10.00
10

0 0.00
Sudasari Khuri Kanoi Sudasari Khuri Kanoi

Study sites Study sites

Figure-1 . Occurrence of remains of food material in scats Figure-2 . Occurrence of remains of food material in scats
of Desert fox (During summer) of Desert fox (During winter)

Sudasari, Khuri and Kanoi of Desert National Park Sanctuary
(DNP). This region is also a paradise for endemic birds like
Great Indian Bustard, sand grouse, bushchats, partridge and
starlings and migratory avian species like imperial sand grouse,
houbara bustard, and several passerine birds. Among mammals
Chinkara, Nilgai, Desert cat, Foxes, Hare, Mongoose,
Hedgehogs and several species of rodents, and among reptiles
several types of snakes and lizards including Monitor lizard
and Spiny tailed lizard are commonly seen.
The vegetations are thorn forest or scrub forest6. The major
vegetation is composed of Prosopis cineraria, Salvadora
persica spp. and Acacia Senegal among trees, Capparis
decidua, Calotropis procera, Ziziphus nummularia, Laptedenia
pyrotechnica, and Crotalaria burhia among herbs & shrubs,
among grasses Cenchrus spp., Penicum turgidum, Lesiurus
sindicus and Aristida spp.
Scat collection and Scat analysis: Food matter preferred or
used by the desert fox were assessed by the scat analysis.
Scats were collected from ten sites to avoid the
misidentification. Scat were stored in plastic bags and tagged
with the information about species, collection time, date and
study site. Scats were collected from each study sites
(periodically) in every season.
To assess the diet of Desert fox, scat analysis was done using
the standard protocols for estimation of scat 7-9. Scats were
sun dried in the field. Thereafter, they were kept in hot air oven
at 600C for 24 hours to kill the associated invertebrates in the
laboratory. The scat were dismembered by the help of the
needle and forceps and undigested material such as bones,
insects remain, feathers, hairs, claws, seeds, egg shells, skin
were separated from the each sample separately. The
occurrence of remains of different animal and plant materials
(277) JAIPAL
was noted sample wise and percentage was calculated
considering 100 samples.
Direct observation: To make observations of feeding activities
from a distance direct observation technique was applied and
8A X 40 prismatic field binocular was used throughout the
study10.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Desert fox was recorded feeding upon insects, scorpions,
reptiles, birds, eggs, small mammals, dead bodies of animals,
delivered placenta of mammals, fruits of Ziziphus nummularia,
Salvadora persica, Prosopis cineraria, Capparis decidua,
Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus, Grewia tenax, and Prosopis
juliflora. Mainly it was fed upon rat, squirrel and birds also.
A total of 100 scats were collected from three study areas, 45
from Sudasari, 32 from Khuri and 28 from Kanoi in both season
winter and summer. The plant material was analyzed as
maximum 58% followed by hairs (49%) of mammals, feathers
(27%) and least was 7% for arthropod material. Occurrence of
hairs, feathers plant material and seeds were high. On the
contrary, percentage of bones, arthropods and others were
low in all the seasons and at all study sites.
Seasonal variation: Two seasons were covered for collection
of scats during study viz. summer and winter. It was observed
that overall seasonal consumption of different food material
groups were higher during the summer than those consumed
in winter. During summer, the seeds and the plant material
were quite high (33%), while during winter hair (26%) was higher
than all other items. The Arthropods were found minimum in
both seasons than all other items.
In Sudasari study site, the plant material and seeds (66.67%)
found higher than all other items during summer while in winter
hairs (40%) found higher than all other items which shows
that flesh material was preferred by him probably to meet out
the fiber protein requirement. In Khuri study site the plant
material and seeds (83.33%) was higher followed by hairs
(66.67%), feathers (33.33%) during summer season.
In winter, the plant material (60%) was found higher followed
by hairs (50%) feathers (25%). All the percentage of summer
season is higher than the percentage of winter season. In
Kanoi study site, the plant material and seed (86.67%) were
found higher followed by hairs (53.33%), feathers (26.67%),
bones, arthropods and others were 13.33% during summer.
But in winter hairs (46.15%) found higher than plant material
(38.46%) and all other items. (Table-1, Figs.-1& 2).
Considering the above said study (data), it seems that the
Desert fox is not having any specific habit for food selection.
Their food is varied from non chordate to plant material. It
depends on the availability of food in the particular season in
that habitat. There is need for conserving this endangered
scheduled animal by checking its habitat loss and by
conserving its food available in desert.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author expresses his gratitude to the authorities of Forest
Department, Govt. of Rajasthan for granting him necessary
permission for the studies on the referred animal in DNP. He is
further thankful to the Head, Department of Zoology, JNV
University, Jodhpur for providing laboratory facilities and Prof.
G. R. Jakher is hereby thanked for guidance regarding the
present research work. Prof. R.K. Gupta, Department of Zoolgy,
JNV University, Jodhpur and Dr. Himmat Singh, DMRC Jodhpur
for necessary support.
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