Abstract
The Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a least concern carnivore according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2016). However, in Pakistan Red fox is considered as Near Threatened (NT), due to habitat destruction and depletion of food resources. The objective of the study was to identify habitat preferences and population density of Red fox in District Chakwal, Pakistan. Line transect census method was used to estimate the population density of Red fox through direct sighting and indirect method of burrow counting, presence of footprints and scats. A total of 10 transects were carried out at three potential sites: Devi, Photaki and Chumbisurla Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) in Chakwal based on preliminary surveys. Habitat preference was estimated by comparing three different study sites by quadrat method and found that CWS area is preferred habitat for Red fox. A total of 24 plant species were recorded in the study areas, among them Cynodon dactylon is major herb found to provide shelter to Red fox in all study sites based on Importance value Index (I.V.I) at CWS (IVI=208.8) followed by Devi (IVI=185.93) and Photaki (IVI=142.33). The maximum population density of Red fox through direct sighting at CWS having 0.26 individuals/km2 compared to Devi and Photaki having 0.16 and 0.13 individuals/km2, respectively. The indirect estimation method revealed that maximum dens were found in CWS area compared to Devi and Photaki, while footprints and scats were found maximum in Devi and Photaki, respectively. It is concluded that Red fox preferred habitat is CWS site. Habitat destruction and conflicts with fox are causing the population of the Red fox to dwindle in Chakwal, Pakistan.
Highlights
Common red fox (Vulpes vulpes, Family, Mammalia: Linnaeus, 1758) is the most wide dispersed carnivore reported from North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia (Cavallini and Lovari, 1994; White, et al, 2006)
Red fox is mostly considered as nocturnal (Albes, 1975; Maurel, 1980; Blanco, 1986) though some high diurnal activity of the species has been recorded by some other workers (Lovari et al, 1991; Cavallini and Lovari, 1994)
In the present study we found its diurnal activity with the evidence in the Figure 6
Summary
Common red fox (Vulpes vulpes, Family, Mammalia: Linnaeus, 1758) is the most wide dispersed carnivore reported from North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia (Cavallini and Lovari, 1994; White, et al, 2006). In Pakistan, red fox is declared as regarded as near threatened (NT) due to habitat loss and reduction in the availability of food resource (Sheikh and Molur, 2004) and itranges from plains and forests to high elevations (Roberts, 1997). It is different from jackals (Canis aureus) in having more robust body, a longer, bushy and tapered tail with pure white tip and back of the ears velvety-black. In the Indus plains it prefers extensive uncultivated tracts with sand-dunes It occurs throughout the mountainous areas, valleys and higher mountain slopes of Baluchistan, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and the Himalayas (Roberts, 1997)
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