HABITAT SELECTION BY DESERT FOX (Vulpes vulpes pusilla) IN HUMAN MODIFIED LANDSCAPE OF THAR DESERT

Abstract

Knowledge about habitat use and selection helps to assess the impact of land use change on wildlife and inform conservation management. This study aims to understand habitat use and den site selection of Desert Fox (Vulpes vulpes pusilla) in the human modified landscape of Desert National Park and it adjoins in Rajasthan. The study was conducted from January 2024 to April 2024 that include the fox breeding season. Species occupancy inside and outside protected areas were examined to understand the effectiveness of protection. Den site selection was examined by comparing habitat, resource, and disturbance variables at the scale of core usage around the den and random control points. Protected area showed a positive effect on occupancy of foxes. Desert fox was found to be using diverse habitat types for denning, however, scrubland tended to be used more than availability and grassland was used less than availability, in the study area. Agriculture did not influence den site. Foxes showed strong avoidance to areas with high human and livestock disturbances and strong preference to areas with abundant Capparis fruiting for denning. Increase in human footprint in the landscape could potentially lower the survivability and reproductive success of foxes by making them prone to direct threats from humans and subsidized predators such as dogs.