Behavioral Structure, Activity Rhythm and Relationships to the Conservation and Welfare of Tibetan Fox in Tibet Plateau of China

As a keystone species in alpine ecosystems, the Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata) plays an important role in maintaining ecological processes on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Understanding its behavioral structure, activity rhythm, and responses to road-related human disturbance is essential for effective conservation and management. This study was conducted in the Tangbei Area of Sanjiangyuan National Park from May to December 2024 using infrared camera trapping. In total, 1166 effective camera-trap days yielded 748 independent photographs, 340 video clips, and 217 valid behavioral records. An ethogram was constructed, and activity patterns and responses to human disturbance were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) Tibetan fox behavior was dominated by locomotion (55.18%), followed by vigilance (23.20%) and scent marking (17.68%). (2) The species exhibited pronounced nocturnality, with an overall daily activity rate of 76.20%. Activity peaked at night (22:00–04:00), reaching 92.63%, while the lowest activity level occurred around midday (12:00), with an activity rate of 44.63%. (3) Roads and human activities significantly altered the behavioral structure of Tibetan foxes. The study indicates that Tibetan foxes adapt to human disturbance through temporal allocation and spatial avoidance, which may affect its social structure and increase energy expenditure. In future conservation practices, focus should be placed on the management of human activities in the region, with enhanced efforts in the construction of ecological corridors, restoration of habitat connectivity, and control of traffic intensity. This study provides scientific evidence to support wildlife conservation and human activity management in alpine protected areas of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The quantified behavioral baseline and disturbance response patterns also offer reference indicators for conservation veterinary medicine assessment and wild canid welfare monitoring, which can be used to evaluate the health status of Tibetan fox populations under anthropogenic pressure.