White footed desert fox – Little Rann

White footed desert fox – Little Rann Wild Ass sanctuary (Gujarat)
White-footed fox or desert fox (Vulpes vulpes pusilla) is one of three subspecies of red foxes found in India. It can be distinguished by its its white-tipped tail and giant ears.
They are quite shy and elusive. So, this was a surprise to find these cubs and their mother being so bold and not bothered by our presence.
The desert fox inhabits parts of India, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq. In India, it has been spotted in Rajasthan and Gujarat, most notably in the Wild Ass Sanctuary, Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, and Desert National Park.
Desert foxes are nocturnal, which means that they sleep through the most intense heat of the day, and are awake to hunt, eat, and play during the cooler desert nights.
They live in underground dens. The dens protect them from the desert heat as well as predators like eagles. During non-breeding seasons they live in simple dens dug in the earth, but when they have pups, they create dens with multiple entry/exit points of escape in case of an attack by predatiors.
Physical:
Desert Fox weighs upto 3 kgs. Some visual estimates put it closer to 5 kgs.
Despite their small size, desert foxes have giant ears. Their ears could measure as long as six inches! These distinctive, batlike ears radiate body heat and help keep the foxes cool. Their ears, color, and size are all important adaptations, or body features that help the foxes survive in a difficult environment of the desert.
Diet:
They are omnivorous and feeds on rodents, gerbils, insects and even fruits. Like most desert dwellers, they have developed the ability to go for long periods without water.
Breeding:
They are generally solitary but pair up during the breeding season. After a nearly two month long gestation period, the female fox (vixen) gives birth to between 2 and 5 offspring that are known as kits. Both parents care for the pups till they grow up ( 4-5 months). Though they grow up quickly, these foxes may live up to 10 years in the wild