Jackal in the neighbourhood

 

October 27, 2008

Zululand OBSERVER

	Jackal in the neighbourhood A fully-grown side-striped jackal One of the seven side-striped jackal pups on the farm outside eShowe Larry Bentley FARMERS in the Ntumeni area were surprised to find a litter of seven side-striped jackal pups on a farm less than 20km outside eShowe. This is about the furthermost south that these jackals have been seen. Side-striped jackals are not unknown in the area and have been seen on numerous game counts. According to the book 'The Carnivores of Natal' by DT Rowe-Rowe, litters of four to six are born between August and October after a gestation of 57-70 days. Lactation lasts 8-10 weeks and sexual maturity is reached at eight months (Ginsberg & Macdonald 1990). Longevity is listed as 10-12 years. The side-striped jackal is unprotected outside of reserves in KZN and is not listed in the SA Red Data Book, nor any CITES appendices. Rowe-Rowe says they are only recorded from the coastal lowlands of north-eastern KZN (St Lucia mouth northwards to Kosi Bay), at elevations below 100m. No reliable records of former habitation are available. Although the animals favour thickly wooded areas and avoid open savanna (Ginsberg & Macdonald 1990; Skinner & Smithers 1990), the side-striped jackals occur in both open grassland and lightly wooded savanna in north-eastern KZN. Diet studies done elsewhere in southern Africa revealed that they feed on invertebrates, small vertebrates, fruits and seeds (Bothma 1971; Skinner & Smithers 1990). No threat The farmers are monitoring the pups and are happy to have them on their farms as they eat cane rats and other small mice such as the striped mouse. They are accomplished hunters and track down a wide range of small mammals. They also eat ground-nesting birds, lizards, insects, wild fruit and other vegetable matter, as well as carrion left by large predators. This species does not put up a spirited defence and is easily overpowered by dogs and other animals. Generally the side-striped jackal is not considered a problem animal.