Golden jackal detected in the Jura
A golden jackal was photographed at the Col du Marchairuz in the Vaud Jura. The sighting confirms the spread of the species in Switzerland.
A golden jackal has been photographed near the Col du Marchairuz VD.
First recorded in the Jura
According to the Kora Foundation and the Canton of Vaud, this marks the first time the dog-like predator has been detected in the Jura. The wild animal was caught on a camera trap during the night of 4 to 5 January 2021 — a trap that had been set up for lynx monitoring.
«The presence of the golden jackal is a novelty in the Jura massif», confirmed Laurence Jobin, spokesperson for the Vaud Department of the Environment. «This is a natural and gradual expansion of the species from Eastern Europe», said Frédéric Hoffmann, head of the Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife Management division.
Between fox and wolf
The golden jackal is a medium-sized member of the canid family, weighing between eight and ten kilograms — placing it between the fox and the wolf. It was first spotted in Switzerland in 2011.
