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Deon Furstenburg
Black-backed Jackal
Canis mesomelas (Von Schreber, 1775)
Afrikaans Rooijakkals
German Schabrackenschakel
French Chacal a chabraque
isiNdebele Ikhanka
isiZulu Mpungutshe
isiXhosa Impungutye
seSotho Phokobje
seTswana Phokobje
Shona Hungubwe
Venda Phungubwe
Nama/Damara !Girib
Photo: Deon Furstenburg
IUCN Conservation Status:
Least Concern (LC)
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“Ha-haa-aa-aa” most typical cry of African night, black-backed jackal and yet the most
hated animal in the farming industry. Vermin for both domesticated small stock and
the young of wildlife. Small stock farmers have reported losses of up to 18% of annual
produce. A single black impala lamb falling prey accounts for a loss of R400,000.
Taxonomy Kingdom: ANIMALIA
Phylum: CORDATA
Class: MAMMALIA
Supercohort: LAURASIATHERIA
Cohort: FERUNGULATA
Superorder: FERAE
Order: CARNIVORA
Suborder: FELIFORMIA
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
Species: mesomelas
Canids (family Canidae) are the most prominent of the carnivores (order Carnivora),
with 13 genera and 36 species across the world; foxes, dholes, dingoes, wolves,
jackals, coyotes and dogs. The first jackal-like Canis evolved 6,5 million years ago,
much earlier than the coyote or wolf. Fossils of black-backed jackal dates back 2
million years. The two fox species in southern Africa, the bat-eared fox Otocyon
megalotis and the cape fox Vulpes chama, are frequently confused as jackals and
blamed by mistake for small stock killings. Two subfamilies exists: Vulpini that hosts
the foxes with 3 genera (Vulpes, Urocyon, Otocyon) and the subfamily Canini with 4
genera (Canis, Xenocyon,Cuon, Lycaon). The extent jackal species in Africa are: a)
the golden jackal Canis aureus with 12 subspecies, b) the side-striped jackal
C.adustus with 3 subspecies and c) the black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas with 2
subspecies; the southern black-backed jackal C.m. mesomelas and the eastern black-
backed jackal C.m.schmidti.
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Distribution
Description
The black-backed jackal is somewhat fox-like and somewhat dog-like, with a pointed
muzzle, a silver-black saddle on the back, a long bushy tail and a contrast rufous red-
brown on the flanks, extending to pale white on the underside. The tail acts as a
stabilizer enabling the animal to make quick swift turns. A black stripe along each flank
edges the back saddle, extending to the tail end. The tail is dark brown to black and a
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black end, whereas the tail end of the side-striped jackal is white. The ears are large,
pointed and erect. The hair of the fur vary in length from 40-70mm. Males are slightly
larger than females. The side-striped jackal is larger and the golden jackal smaller
than the black-backed jackal. Unlike any of the cats the claws, 12-15mm long, cannot
retract and are always printed in the spoor. The front paws have 5 toes (4 printed in
the spoor) and the hind 4.
Spoor
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Information table
Jackal information table Black-backed Side-
striped
Characteristic Male Female
Adult body weight kg 6,5–9,5 5,5–10 7,3–12,1
Adult shoulder height cm 35–38 33–37 37–41
Total body length
(snout to tail end)
cm 96–112 89–109 96–117
Canine length (fangs) mm 18–22 18–22 20–24
Canine width (bite marks) mm 23–30 (avg. 26) 23–30
Cranium length mm 17 17 17
Sexual maturity age months 8 8 ?
Social maturity age (1st mating) months 14 8 ?
1st Litter born at age years 1,2 ?
Gestation period days 60 60
Litter size number 1–6 4–7
Litter interval months 12 12
Birth season Jul–Nov Jul–Jan
Weaning age months 9 9
Independent at age months 8 ?
Gender ratio: population (natural) 1 1 1 : 1
Mating ratio: adults (natural) 1 1 1 : 1
Cubs birth ratio 1 1 1 : 1
Maximum lifespan years 13 13 11
Social order Solitary Solitary Solitary
Home range ha 2 000–5 000 ?
Territory range ha ? ? ?
Daily food consumption kg 0,7 0,7 0,7
Annual population growth 1246% (average 21%) ?
Trophy
Jackal do not feature in any formal trophy registers as they are not recognized as
trophy animals.
Black-backed Jackal trophy records
Rowland Ward (XXVII edition 2006)
Not listed as a trophy animal
Safari Club International S.C.I.
Not listed as a trophy animal
Confederation of Hunters Associations of South Africa CHASA
Not listed as a trophy animal
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Habitat requirement
Black-backed jackals occur at an annual rainfall of 100-1,000mm and at all terrestrial
temperatures, whereas the side-striped jackal is restricted to 500-800mm rain and only
at subtropical temperatures. Black-backed jackals are found in all types of habitats
except for tropical and rain forests. The side-striped jackal also avoids dry open
grassland and arid regions. Habitat suitability is largely depicted by the presence and
abundance of potential prey. Where more than one jackal species occur in sympatry
the habitat is partitioned. Black-backed jackal can aggressively displace both side-
striped and golden jackal when partitioning.
Behaviour
Black-backed jackals are relatively unspecialised canids and well suited for an
opportunistic lifestyle. They move an average of 12km per 24 hours roaming large
areas for food, mostly during daylight hours and early evening. They are weary of
strange objects and the young follow the example of adults in avoiding poisoned baits
such as coyote getters. Mated pairs will often cooperate in the capture of prey,
resulting in a higher success rate.
Jackals are generally shy to human presence but will sneak up close at night
to scavenge potential food. Especially livestock kraals and poultry paddocks are
favoured. The bleating calls of young animals attracts jackal from far. They are sly and
clever in avoiding direct human confrontation, and learn with experience and revolving
situations, not to make the same mistake twice.
Feeding & Nutrition
It is a generalist opportunistic feeder and the diet varies according to food availability.
The diet consists typically of small- to medium-sized mammals such as young
antelope, mice and hares, reptiles, birds, eggs, carrion and human refuse, as well as
invertebrates, marine life, fruit and berries. They will eat almost any organic material.
At large carcasses such as seals and large herbivores, aggregations of 8-30 jackals
may happen but territorial males often turn to heavy fighting. During the lambing
season of antelope, jackal will keep with the antelope herds. Ewes having difficulty in
lambing often gets attacked from behind. Jackals are often found following larger
predators such as lion, cheetah, leopard and hayena in order to share in leftovers from
the kills. Old, sick and injured antelope are often followed by several jackal pairs
together and jointly attacked and killed. Jackals also become masters in catching birds
from flocks at water points, by rushing into the flock and with a leap into air grab a bird
from the chaotic uplift. Jackals have good sense of smell and can detect a carcass
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from 1,5km. Large pieces of meat are sometimes buried for consumption later. Diet
comprises: 10-25% fruit and berries, 20-40% invertebrates, 20-45% scavenged meat
and 10-60% preyed kills. Kill success for a solitary jackal is 17% and up to 80% for
pairs and groups. Average food intake is 0,6-0,8kg per day and up to 2,5kg per meal.
Territory & Home range
Jackals form permanent pair-bonding that mostly lasts for life. If one member dies, its
partner usually loses territorial power. Both sexes participate in territorial defence. The
territory boundaries are demarcated by faeces and urine. Territories are stable and
permanent and may be maintained for as long as 4 years. It forms the total area of the
home range and vary from 0,6-25km2. Water sources are shared between adjacent
territories. In the eastern Cape the spoor of a specific limping jackal was found 23km
apart, across 4 farms, in three consecutive days. A male has been recorded that has
travelled 80km in 4 days. Adjacent home ranges may overlap by 60% but the animals
will keep spatial distance from each other at most time.
Social structure & Reproduction
Jackals form permanent pairs consisting of an adult male and female, with or without
young of the present litter. When losing its mate it becomes a nomad until a new mate
is found, and then establishes a new territory. At the end of gestation the bitch seeks
a den which can be under a hip of branches, under thicket, between rocks or a
deserted aardvark burrow. Sometimes she might dig a burrow herself, 1-2m diameter
and with 2-3 escape ways. For three weeks the pups remain in the den with the
mother. The male brings food in its stomach and vomits it for the mother and pups.
When in danger the pups are moved to a new den. After 3 weeks the mother leaves
the den and the pups only after 3 months. Pups remain with the parents for 8-15
months. Sometimes 2 litters of different age may accompany the parents and the elder
litter will assist in the nursing of the younger. With assistance the survival rate of the
offspring may rise to 80%, whereas without it is <30%.
Recorded populations densities are 1 jackal/2,5-2,9km2 in the Drakensberg,
0,1-0,53 jackal/km2 in the Namib desert, up to 16-32/km2 at the seal rookery at Cape
Cross, and the author recorded 4 pairs jackal/18km2 in the eastern Cape Valley
Bushveld.
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Vermin control
Studies indicated the following methodology effectiveness with black-backed jackal
control: organized hunting 21%, poison 13%, foot-traps 7%, snares 1%, hunting by
farmer 13%, coyote getters 2%, electrical fences 8%, closing sheep at night in a kraal
26%, sheppard stockman 7% and sheppard dogs 42%. Certain jackal individuals
improve by intelligent learning to master slyness and outsmart humans in killing small
stock, they are super culprits. Super culprits tend to train youngsters and other jackal
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to become masters as well, creating a snowball effect of mastered skills within a
population. Vermin control should be directed to the elimination of the super culprits.
Bibliography
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Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.
Gallery
Photo: D Furstenburg, adult male
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Photo: D Furstenburg, adult male
