The Carnivores of africa

Jackal black backed

Canis mesomelas

The size and shape of a medium-sized domestic dog it is the most common of the jackals of Africa. Also called the silver-backed jackal due to the silver sheen on the top of its body.

Distribution Two separate populations occur in East and southern Africa. The Black-backed jackal is common throughout its distribution, although it has been wiped out in parts, mainly in the small-stock farming areas of South Africa because of its killing of young sheep and goats.

Social structure Black-backed jackal will pair for life and both partners urine scent-mark their territories and defend against intruders. The sizes of the territories vary and depend on factors such as availability of food and competition from other jackal. When one of the partners dies the territory will usually be taken over by another pair as the single animal will not be strong enough to defend own its own.

Range differentiation No great differences between the two populations.

Habitat A wide range of habitats from savannas to deserts. Survives comfortably on the Skeleton Coast of Namibia.

Feeding Jackals feed on a wide variety of food including small mammals, young antelope, birds, reptiles, insects and fruit. The African ebony tree is also known as the jackal berry tree due to jackals eating their fruits. Jackals will also scavenge and have even been known to steal kills from cheetah and leopard. As mentioned earlier they will kill the young of small-stock in the farming areas.

Breeding Jackal pair for life and are seasonal breeders. Size of the litter varies from two to seven and pups from previous litters assist in the care of the young ones.

Young Black backed jackals stay close to their parents

Pups do not stray far from the den when young but will explore more as they get older.

A Black backed jackal getting close to an african lion

Jackal are opportunistic and will even attempt stealing a morsel from a male lion.

The Black-backed jackal is common throughout its distribution, although it has been wiped out in parts, mainly in the small-stock farming areas of South Africa because of its killing of young sheep and goats. In these areas it is strictly nocturnal whereas in most of its range in the protected areas it is active in the cooler hours of the day. The fact that it still survives in some areas despite heavy persecution shows its adaptability and survival skills and it has been dubbed ‘the super jackal’ in these areas.

The black-backed jackal has one of the more charachteristic calls of Africa. It can be described as a screaming whoop.

Lions and vultures

They will be very active at a carcass even when lions are feeding. Nipping in, stealing a piece of meat and nipping out quickly. They have been known to stand up to hyena when food is involved. I have observed jackal chasing cheetahs of kills. When on a kill jackals have their work cut out keeping vultures away. I have frequently observed jackal not letting vultures feed on a carcass despite the jackal not been able to eat any more itself.

The golden jackal is similar to the black backed jackal in habits. Where the distribution overlaps however they tend to avoid each other with the black-backed staying in the more wooded areas and the golden inhabiting the open plains.