Tibetan fox: an amazing beast with the appearance of a wolf and the look of a man

This fox has such an unusual appearance that it looks more like a fictional character in a children's film than a real animal. In addition, an uninitiated person is more likely to see a wolf in her than a fox. Today we will talk about an extraordinary Tibetan fox, a very rare and secretive animal with incredibly smart and human eyes.

The Tibetan fox lives in the steppe and semi-desert landscapes of the Tibetan plateau, as well as adjacent territories and is not found anywhere else on the planet. Natural conditions here are far from comfortable. The sharply continental climate of the highlands, piercing icy winds and low temperatures in winter, sparse vegetation and poor wildlife make the life of a Tibetan fox a daily struggle for survival.

But she is perfectly adapted to life in such conditions. Thick, warm fur with dense undercoat helps to cope with negative temperatures and constant wind in winter, as well as with sweltering summer heat. Due to the fact that the thick fur reaches the neck, the head of this fox looks square and disproportionately large. The color of her coat is very interesting: on top it is reddish-gray in color, and on the sides goes gray-brown, there are areas with white coat on the tip of the tail and neck.

The size of the Tibetan fox is quite small. With a body length of 60-70 centimeters, it weighs no more than 5.5 kilograms. Its distribution range reaches 5,000 meters above sea level and is limited by the distribution of pikas - small mammals, which are the basis of the diet of Tibetan foxes. In addition to pikas, they feed on rodents, hares, reptiles, bird eggs and everything that comes across them in the vast expanses of the Tibetan plateau.

These foxes live in pairs, and as shelters they use burrows built in the ground or among stones. Male and female hunt together on a common territory and keep pairs for the rest of their lives.

Tibetan foxes lead a hidden lifestyle, so taking photos of them and even more so taking them on camera is considered a great success. In view of this, accurate registration of animals is difficult, as well as a detailed study of their lifestyle. Experts believe that the number of this endemic of the Tibetan plateau is low. This is partly due to harsh living conditions, partly to human activities. On the territory of China, the authorities declared a struggle to squeaks, after which Tibetan foxes began to disappear. It is hoped that the number of these amazing animals will soon stabilize.