JACKAL

                     

                      STATUS

IUCN                   :  LC 

CAMP                 :  LRnt 

CITES                  :  Appendices III 

Schedule            :  II (Part I) 

Activity               :  Diurnal 

Social Group     :  Solitary / Pairs / Packs

Population        :  Not known but still common in North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kuchchh, but number is on decline. 

👉Local name   :   Shiyal 

👉Physical measurements & life cycle : 👇

Length                 :  100 cm

Tail length          :  25 cm

Height                 :  40 cm

Weight                :  7 - 15 kg

Maturity             :  12 months

Gestation           :  63 days

Breeding            :  Any time of a year 

Life span           :  8 - 10 years in wilderness, 15 years in captivity. 

👉Description   :  Smaller than the village dog. It has long mouth, bushy tail having thick hair and greyish brown body with buff wash on ears, shoulders and legs. 

👉Food   :  Omnivorous. It is mainly a scavenger. It also preys upon birds. Fallen fruits are also consumed. 

👉Distribution   :  All over the state but common in Saurashtra, Kachchh and North Gujarat. 

👉Habitat  :    Open forest and grassland, outskirts of human settlements etc.

👉Behaviour  :   Jackals can be seen near villages in the evenings. They often gather in groups near villages in the evenings and howl. At times, one can see them moving around dead animals (including dead cattle). Eats 'ber'(i.e., berries of Zyziphus) during fruiting season. 

👉Signs of presence  :  Howling and presence of 'ber' seeds in droppings.

👉Biologically, the jackal is the nearest relative of the wolf. It can live in any type of environment ranging from deserts to open, dry plains to humid forests. Though jackals are usually solitary, they some times move and hunt in groups. Not much is known about jackal's family life due to its secretive habits. With regards to its feeding habits, it may be interesting to note that besides shrubs of Zyziphus ("ber"), jackals often raid melon patches and sugarcane fields