Black-backed Jackal

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Canis mesomelas

Considered a cunning creature of tricks and magic in local folklore and reviled by small stock farmers, Black-backed Jackals are the most common canid occurring in South Africa. Easily recognisable by their black-and-silver “saddles”, these jackals stand between 30 and 48cm high at the shoulder and weigh between 5 and 13kg.

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Black-backed Jackal trying to hide from the camera
Hiding jackal pup
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Black-backed Jackal (photo by Joubert)
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Black-backed Jackal with a bullfrog

Black-backed Jackals have a very wide habitat tolerance, and can be found from desert coasts to high mountain ranges, though they prefer drier, more open country and avoid forested areas. They are even known to live in the suburbs of many towns and cities. They are equally catholic in their diet and there’s very little that a Black-backed Jackal will not eat. Where they share their range with large predators, like lions, leopards and cheetahs, carrion makes up a large proportion of their intake, though they are quite capable hunters and will prey on anything from invertebrates to fish, reptiles, birds and small mammals up to medium-sized antelope like the springbok and seal pups. They will also eat berries, fruit and rizomes. Black-backed Jackals are independent of drinking water, but will drink when it is available.

Black-backed Jackal nervously approaching the carcass
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Black-backed jackal scaling a rocky outcrop
Daring jackals at a lion kill, seen on a night drive from Satara
Playful jackal pups
Black-backed jackal setting out to forage at dusk
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Black-backed jackal are quite common near Orpen
Wet black-backed jackal
Black-backed jackal silhouette
Jackal jumping to catch a mole
Two jackals squabbling over a carcass
Black-backed Jackal in typical open habitat
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Black-backed Jackal jumping after a rodent in long grass
Black-backed Jackals at Mavuso’s carcass
King of the castle: Black-backed Jackal at Mavuso’s carcass
Black-backed Jackals fighting over scraps
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Black-backed Jackal (photo by Joubert)

Black-backed Jackals are nocturnal animals, usually emerging at dusk and returning to their dens at dawn, though they may at times be active throughout the day, and especially so in overcast weather. By day they sleep in thickets, caves or holes dug in the ground by other animals, The normal social grouping consists of a mated pair with their offspring, often of consecutive litters, defending fairly large territories. Apart from being very clever animals, Black-backed Jackals are quite brave and tenacious, and will even mob lions and hyenas on a carcass.

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Black-backed jackal saying his morning prayer?
Black-backed jackal at Satara
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Black-backed Jackal (photo by Joubert)

Black-backed Jackals pairs usually have litters of 3-4 pups born on late winter or spring after a short 2 month gestation. Previous litters help the dominant pair to raise the youngest offspring by bringing food to the den (usually a cave or hole in the ground). Black-backed Jackals often fall prey to larger carnivores (leopards are especially fond of jackal meat), are also very susceptible to mange, distemper and rabies, and have a life expectancy of only 6 to 14 years in the wild.

Black-backed jackal at Tinhongonyeni, near Mopani
Leopard hunting jackals
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Black-backed jackal at the turnoff to Tamboti
Jackals suffering from mange
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Black-backed Jackal seen from the hide at Nossob
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Black-backed Jackal at Shipirivhiri Waterhole
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Shy Black-backed Jackal
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Black-backed Jackal and Blesbok
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Black-backed Jackal pup
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The IUCN considers the Black-backed Jackal as being of least concern, being common with a stable population over most of its distribution in East and Southern Africa, despite being persecuted as vermin by farmers. They occur all over South Africa, though they are understandably much easier to see in conservation areas than in farming communities. In our experience good places to go looking for Black-backed Jackals are the Kruger National Park (especially around Satara), Addo Elephant, Golden Gate, Marakele and Pilanesberg National Parks, Giant’s Castle in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, and Rietvlei Nature Reserve.

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Black-backed Jackal eating from the carcass of a Spotted Hyena
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Baboon chasing a Black-backed Jackal
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Jackal testing a lion’s patience
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Black-backed Jackal couple.
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Blesbok eyeing a Black-backed Jackal with some suspicion
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Black-backed Jackal looking for a little shade at Tihongonyeni
Black-backed Jackal and Blue Wildebeest at Mooiplaas
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Black-backed Jackal (photo by Joubert)
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This warthog family almost ran straight into the jackal!
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Black-backed Jackal

 

34 thoughts on “Black-backed Jackal”

  1. Pingback: Satara Summer 2021 – Jaunting with Jackals | de Wets Wild

  2. Pingback: Hell hath no fury like a female Baboon! | de Wets Wild

    1. DeWetsWild's avatarde Wets Wild Post author

      So true John – people always treat the scavengers with so much disdain, but fail to realise what an important function they have in the ecosystem!

      Reply ↓
  15. midwesternplants's avatarMidwestern Plant Girl

    These guys have very cute saddles! Love the jumping for mole pix, reminds me of snow fox going for mice under snow. I bet they are pretty cunning with those K9 brains. We don’t have jackals, but we have coyotes. Basically the same thing. Coyotes are crazy enough to go after bear! Crazy dog!

    Reply ↓
    1. DeWetsWild's avatarde Wets Wild Post author

      I agree Ilex, both in habits and capacity for slyness the jackals really are very similar to North America’s coyotes, and they are in fact related (same genus).

      Reply ↓

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