A female Golden Jackal, Canis aureus, looking backwards over her shoulder in Ultima Frontiera in the Danube Delta in north-eastern Romania.
Golden Jackals are widely distributed in southern Asia, south-east Asia, south-west Asia and eastern Europe. They are expanding rapidly westwards into western Europe, incuding the Germany and Denmark – into areas where there are few or no wolves.
Golden Jackals are not closely related to the Black-backed Jackal and Side-striped Jackal of Africa. The canid in Africa which was previously thought to be, and called, Golden Jackal has now been shown not to be the same species, and it is now called African Golden Wolf. The two species are, however, physically very similar.
Golden Jackals fill a similar ecolgical niche to that inhabited by Coyotes in North America. They are opportunistic feeders, both hunting and scavenging, and are omniverous. Their diet varies on location, but usually consists of small mammals, reptiles, birds and fruit. At Ultima Frontiera, where this photo was taken, fish are put out to attract White-tailed Eagles, and the Jackals go to feed on them. The staff there found a Jackal fishing in a creek, so it had clearly developed a taste for fish.
This image is copyright © Liz Leyden. All rights strictly as agreed in writing with the author or her agent.
My Golden Jackal Photo is available to purchase as a rights-managed stock photo from Alamy.
