Status of Jackals and Foxes (Family: Canidae) From Selected Hill Areas of Pakistan

The family Canidae consists of coyotes, dogs, foxes, jackals, and wolves. The IUCN red list reports 38 species under this family. This study was conducted in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Conserved areas of Tolipir National Park, Banjosa Game Reserve, Pir Chanasi National Park, Pir Lasura National Park and Dhirkot Nature Reserve were studied from 2008 to 2010. Vulpes vulpes griffithi (Kashmir or hill fox) is a flexible hunter. It mainly feeds on hares, rodents, reptiles and occasionally small birds. In absence of vertebrate prey, they may subsist on insects and fruit. Canis aureus (Golden Jackal) is a very adaptable animal which readily enters mountainous areas, forest plantations and riverine thickets. Only two species (Vulpes vulpes griffithi and Canis aureus) belonging to the family Canidae were found in the study area. The local sightings of C. aureus were 35% in BGR, 45% in DNR, 28% in PCNP and 40% in PLNP. Local sightings of V. vulpes species were 18% in BGR and 16% in PCNP. It was not observed in Tolipir National Park, Pir Lasura National Park and Dhirkot Nature Reserve.