People all around the world have different ideas about jackals. In Africa, they’re seen as tricky, and in Indian stories, they’re thought to be smart. In the Bible, a jackal represents being alone, but in Egyptian stories, the god Anubis, who has a jackal head, is seen as helpful and guides souls of the dead.
There are lots of interesting things about jackals that many people don’t know. For example, they’re not just scavengers, they’re good hunters too. They eat dead animals and also hunt small mammals, which helps keep the environment clean and in balance.
Scientists keep surprising us with amazing discoveries about these animals. There are three types of jackals: the black-backed jackal, the side-striped jackal, and the golden jackal. Golden jackals live in Africa and Eurasia. Research shows that the golden jackals in Africa are more closely related to wolves and coyotes there than the ones in Eurasia.
Golden jackals are the most common wild dogs in India, and they often get confused with other animals that look like them. Let’s learn more about what’s not well-known about golden jackals!
Neither a Wolf, Nor a Fox
A golden jackal is a medium-sized animal. It’s thinner than a wolf and has a slim snout. Its tail is short and bushy, with a tan or black tip. Its fur is golden brown with black, brown, and white on its back. In winter, some golden jackals may get a darker coat, depending on where they live. Unlike foxes, golden jackals have long legs and slender feet with small pads, which makes them walk lightly.
Pack of Pals!
Golden jackals live in groups of 4 to 5 members. They hunt, eat, groom, and protect their territory together. They mark their territory with their scent. Taking care of the pups is a team effort among the pack members.
Lifelong Pairing
Golden jackals can stay together as a breeding pair for a long time. In their group, the breeding pair is the most important, followed by their offspring. They work together when hunting. The female can have one to nine pups, and both parents take care of them equally.
Howl do you do!
Golden jackals talk to each other by making different howling sounds. When one jackal howls, it can make other jackals nearby howl too. During mating season, which is from December to April in India, they howl more often. This can also show that they are protecting their territory. When they are in danger from big predators, they make a special warning sound.
Home is where the Food is
Golden jackals eat a variety of foods and can live in many different places. They can be found in dry areas, places with short or medium grass, forests, and even in places where people live in India.
They are good at finding food, and what they eat depends on the time of year and where they are. They have slim bodies and long legs, so they can travel long distances to find food. They use their sense of hearing and smell to find and catch lizards, rodents, snakes, birds, and even small insects. They also eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Sometimes, they hunt together with their group to catch bigger animals. They also eat animals that have already died and sometimes eat food people throw away in trash dumps near where people live.
The Urban Conundrum: Rescues of Golden JackalÂ
Human activities like cities growing quickly, more factories being built, and farms and towns spreading into forests have changed where animals live. This means that golden jackals in India are now often seen in cities and towns, which can sometimes lead to conflicts or problems.
