Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219219
Golden Jackal
Canis aureusAlso known as Common Jackal, Eurasian Jackal, Asiatic Jackal
Golden jackals are highly adaptable, opportunistic canids that form monogamous breeding pairs and maintain well-defended family territories. Their diet shifts effortlessly between hunted rodents, fallen fruits, bird eggs, and human food waste, enabling them to expand rapidly across European agricultural landscapes. Vocal howling duets perform a crucial role in territory defense and bond reinforcement between mated pairs at twilight.
OmnivoreAdaptableCanid
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Rodents
- Hares
- Ground-nesting Birds
Predators
- Gray Wolf
- Eurasian Lynx
- Leopard
ThreatsPersecution by livestock owners, vehicle collisions, and habitat fragmentation
HabitatsGrasslands, shrublands, agricultural lands, and river valleys
Life span8 to 13 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCanidae
- SpeciesCanis aureus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Can carry rabies and defend itself if cornered; keep a respectful distance and avoid feeding.
- Why it is dangerous
- Can transmit zoonotic pathogens including rabies and echinococcosis, delivering a strong bite if trapped.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a tawny-gold coat, slender pointed snout, erect ears, and a short, bushy black-tipped tail.
- What to do
- Maintain a safe distance, secure pet food, and never attempt to corner or feed wild animals.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look along forest edges and agricultural fields during dawn or dusk.
- Property Safety: Secure livestock night pens and garbage bins to deter scavenging.
- Pet Care: Keep domestic dogs leashed to avoid territorial aggressive encounters.
Ecological Counterpart Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Distantly Related Canid (c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Competitor "Red Fox" by Mike's Birds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative User:Mas3cf / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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