Jackal (Golden) - Overview

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Species: Canis aureus

IUCN Status: Least Concern

Population Trend: increasing

Distribution: North & East Africa, South Asia to Burma and Southeastern Europe.

Habitat: mainly dry, open country, short grasslands. Sometimes bush country, but not thick forest.

Size: body length - 70-80cm, tall - about 25cm, height at shoulders - 40 cm. Weight - 8-11kg.

Life span: 8-9 years in the wild. Up to 16 years in captivity.

Food: young gazelles, rodents, hares, birds, eggs, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects & fruit. Sometimes carrion (dead animals) left by lions and other big cats that the jackals often follow.  

Jackals are true members of the dog family and can actually interbreed with both domestic dogs and wolves.