Golden jackal spotted in Rhineland-Palatinate: First evidence from camera trap

Mainz. For the first time, a golden jackal has been recorded in Rhineland-Palatinate. The evidence was provided by images from a camera trap in the Palatinate Forest, according to the Ministry of the Environment in Mainz. Whether the species will become permanently established in the state remains unclear. Since golden jackals can also attack grazing animals, further developments will be closely monitored.

“The appearance of the wild animal is a sign of ecological diversity and shows that our landscape offers intact habitats to provide a new home for wild animals,” said Environment Minister Katrin Eder (Greens).

The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is the only jackal found in Europe. It is slightly larger than a fox and has pointed ears. These animals usually live in pairs or small family packs and are primarily active at night and dusk. According to the German Wildlife Foundation, their diet ranges from crops to insects and amphibians to fish, small birds, and small mammals.

Smaller than a wolf, but larger than a fox: the golden jackal continues to spread.

Source: IMAGO/imagebroker

The sighting of a specimen in Rhineland-Palatinate was not surprising, the ministry explained. In recent decades, the species has spread increasingly from southern and southeastern Europe to Central Europe. The first documented sighting in Germany occurred in Brandenburg in 1997.

The species' reproduction has already been confirmed in Baden-Württemberg. According to the Ministry of the Environment, there is also evidence in northern Alsace, bordering Rhineland-Palatinate. The golden jackal is also spreading in Schleswig-Holstein. There, the authorities recently approved the shooting of an animal of this specially protected species after it had killed numerous lambs on the island of Sylt.

According to the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU), the golden jackal poses no threat to humans. It is a shy animal that avoids contact with humans. Encounters with golden jackals are generally rare, as they are shy and primarily active at dusk or at night.

RND/dpa