Where does the black-backed Jackal live?
The black-backed jackal is a medium-sized canine of eastern and southern Africa, two regions separated by roughly 900 km. One includes the southernmost tip of the continent, with South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The other is along the eastern coastline, including Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia. It is monogamous, and its young often stay on to help.
What does the black-backed Jackal eat?
It has a wide array of food sources: small to medium-sized animals, as well as plant matter. It is monogamous: its young may remain with the family to help raise new generations of pups. It has a reddish brown to tan coat and a black saddle that extends from the shoulders to the base of the tail.
Is the black-backed Jackal endangered?
No: it is listed as Least Concern due to its widespread range and adaptability. It is still persecuted as a livestock predator and rabies vector. Despite this conflict with humans, its populations remain stable thanks to its resilience. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
