When I was photographing desert foxes in Tal Chhapar back in 2013, we saw something moving around a juli flora shrub, and stopped. ‘Maine joda dekha hai, sir’ (I have seen a pair here), my guide said. It is not a common sight to see a male and female desert fox together. The male made the first move and walked away with what seemed like a sense of purpose. The female stayed where she was. After a while, we saw the male pounce on something, and then return to the shrub where she was. He offered the kill (possibly a jird) to the female. By then, we had put our cameras away – there was too much obstructing our view. The pair approached each other briskly, carefully, with tails erect. When they get closer they started making some squeaking noises. They rubbed and pushed against each other, poking their noses into each other’s neck fur. Then they chased each other for a bit.  After a while they stopped, and stood quietly for some time, one putting a head over the other’s back. ‘Ab mating hoga, sir’ (Now they will mate) the guide said. We did not see anything for the next hour or so, but the movement in the bush told us they were still there.

Following The Desert Fox

by Manish Vaidya

When I was photographing desert foxes in Tal Chhapar back in 2013, we saw something moving around a juli flora shrub, and stopped. ‘Maine joda dekha hai, sir’ (I have seen a pair here), my guide said. It is not a common sight to see a male and female desert fox together. The male made the first move and walked away with what seemed like a sense of purpose. The female stayed where she was. After a while, we saw the male pounce on something, and then return to the shrub where she was. He offered the kill (possibly a jird) to the female. By then, we had put our cameras away – there was too much obstructing our view. The pair approached each other briskly, carefully, with tails erect. When they get closer they started making some squeaking noises. They rubbed and pushed against each other, poking their noses into each other’s neck fur. Then they chased each other for a bit.  After a while they stopped, and stood quietly for some time, one putting a head over the other’s back. ‘Ab mating hoga, sir’ (Now they will mate) the guide said. We did not see anything for the next hour or so, but the movement in the bush told us they were still there.