The golden jackal

The golden jackal ( Canis aureus ) is a species of dog closely related to the wolf.

It is increasingly spreading from the Middle East into northern and western Europe. Climate change has favored its spread since the 1980s. Golden jackals are very adaptable and prefer open landscapes. They avoid dense forests and high-altitude, snowy areas. The golden jackal was not introduced to a different range by humans and is therefore not a neozoon. Golden jackals are widespread throughout the Balkans, and are found throughout Romania and eastern Hungary.

Interesting facts about the golden jackal:

The golden jackal is between 80 and 95 cm long and its shoulder height is about 35 to 50 cm. It is smaller than the wolf, but larger than the red fox.
The fur is usually golden yellow, rust-colored, or silver-colored.
Jackals weigh approximately 8–10 kg.
Jackals have bushy tails that are 20–30 cm long.
Jackals are opportunistic eaters. They eat whatever is available: snakes and other reptiles, ungulates, insects, fruits, berries, and sometimes even grass. Carrion is only occasionally on their menu.
Jackals can live solitarily, as part of a pair, or as members of a social pack. Living in a pack offers protection from predators and guarantees access to larger prey.
The jackal's main predators are hunters, wolves, and eagles. Young jackals are particularly vulnerable to eagle attacks.
Jackals are territorial animals. They mark their territory with urine and defend it.
Jackals are fast sprinters. They can reach speeds of up to 65 km/h. However, they usually only travel at 15 km/h for extended periods.
Jackals are very vocal. They use various whines, howls, and barks to communicate. They produce siren-like calls when they have located food. Jackals only respond to calls from their own family. They ignore all other calls.
Jackals are rarely seen in nature because they are crepuscular and nocturnal.
Mating season in Europe is from December to March.
Jackals mate for life (monogamously). After a gestation period of 60 days, a litter consists of six to nine pups.
Young are born in cave-like environments. The mother changes location every 14 days to protect them from predators. Young are furred from birth and completely blind for the first ten days.
After six months, the young are no longer dependent on their parents. However, sometimes one or two pups stay with their parents to help raise the next litter. These then take turns with their parents guarding the den and bringing in food. Jackals reach full sexual maturity after 20 months.
In the wild, jackals live to be 8 to 9 years old. In captivity, they can live up to 16 years.
Only a few golden jackals have been sighted in Switzerland so far: In the winter of 2011/12, camera traps recorded at least one individual in the cantons of Bern, Vaud, and Fribourg. In January 2016, a golden jackal was killed in Graubünden , and in March, another was killed in the canton of Schwyz .

What is Wild beim Wild doing to protect golden jackals?

We are committed to preserving and connecting populations and their habitats. Natural corridors enable genetic exchange between individual populations. Protecting not only predators but also their prey is an essential part of our work. We achieve this by defending wildlife from unnecessary hunting and poaching wherever possible.

Animal portraits