THE TIBETAN FOX: A PORTRAIT OF UNIQUE FACIAL EXPRESSION
Known also as the Tibetan sand fox or by its Tibetan names, Wa or Wamo, this creature is a true fox species endemic to the lofty grassy plains of the Tibetan Plateau in western China, the Ladakh Plateau in northern India, as well as in Sikkim and Bhutan, ascending to heights of around 5,300 m (17,400 feet).
The Tibetan fox possesses a diminutive yet robust frame, adorned with a soft, dense coat boasting gray underfur and a pristine white underbelly. This lush fur serves as an insulation against the gusts of the high mountain winds. Its coat exhibits a spectrum of hues, ranging from ebony and russet to golden tints adorning the nape and dorsum. A fulvous band graces its dorsal region, complemented by a luxuriant tail capped with a snowy terminus. Its ears, short and elegant, display a hue transitioning from light brown to a dusky grayish-brown along the dorsal aspect.
Spanning from nose to tail, an adult Tibetan fox measures between 60 to 70 cm, its tail adding another 29 to 40 cm to its overall length. Typically weighing between 4 to 5.5 kg, it boasts an elongated snout compared to its fox kin, housing well-developed teeth with remarkably elongated canines and a narrow mandible. Its acute sense of hearing renders it an adept predator, preying primarily on plateau pikas while also seeking out other diminutive denizens of the wild such as rodents, lizards, woolly hares, avian prey, and marmots.