Gold jackal in the fast lane: Do you soon threaten our foxes?

Gold jackal in the fast lane: Do you soon threaten our foxes?

Brandenburg, Deutschland - In Germany, the gold jackal is increasingly becoming the public interest. Felix Böcker, a nature -loving, uses a megafon to attract these shy animals in nature. The gold jackal, which is larger than a fox, but smaller than a wolf, has a sonorous name due to its characteristic fur tones. Experts expect the species to spread across the board in Germany. This development is documented by over 500 registered evidence that has been increasingly reported across the country in recent years. The increase in the confirmed sightings from 8 in 2019 is particularly striking to over 100 in 2021, which increased attention in the way.

The gold jackal has its origin in South Asia and the Middle East and was first spotted in Brandenburg in 1997. It is estimated that between 70,000 and 117,000 gold jackals live in Europe. Especially in Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony, these animals have now planted. The spread of the gold jackal is monitored with the help of wild cameras, DNA analyzes and crack reports, whereby research on this kind is still in its infancy in Germany, because there is no historical detection in the form of bone discounts.

ecological effects and dangers

The effects of the gold jackal on the German ecosystems are currently still unclear. According to assessments, the food spectrum of the gold jackal is similar to that of the fox and includes smaller vertebrates such as rodents, amphibians and fish. They prefer semi -open landscapes and have proven to be adaptable. Experts suspect that the gold jackals may compete with the red fox, which could lead to a decline in fox stocks in areas in which both predators occur. This could be the case, especially in regions with intensive fox hunting.

In various federal states, reports on cracks of sheep through gold jackals have already been known. However, the German Farmers' Association estimates that the risk from the gold jackal is lower compared to the wolf. Hubert Aiwanger from the free voters even demands that the gold jackal to be added to the hunting law in order to defuse possible conflicts at an early stage.

cards and distribution

The current spread of the gold jackal in Germany is followed by special maps that represent current sightings in Germany and adjacent regions. The Goldschakal Germany Map shows the most important hotspots where gold jackals appear more and supports environmental authorities and research institutions in planning protective measures. These cards are based on field reports, census surveys and scientific studies and are updated regularly.

In Hungary, for example, the population of the gold jackal has increased massively since the 1980s, despite hunting measures. The species benefited from open dumps, slaughterhouse waste and hunting breaks, which underlines their adaptability and speed in the spread. The unexpected speed with which the gold jackal is established is a challenge, since hunting alone is often not sufficient to control their population.