The jackal is a medium-sized canid found across Africa and Eurasia. The term “jackal” generally refers to three species: the Black-backed, Side-striped, and Golden jackals. While often depicted as skulking scavengers, field reports frequently observe them actively pursuing live prey. This dual reputation creates confusion regarding the animal’s true ecological role, highlighting its adaptability.
Opportunistic Omnivores: Defining the Jackal’s Diet
All jackal species are classified as opportunistic omnivores, which is key to their widespread success in diverse habitats. This label signifies a highly flexible diet, taking advantage of whatever food sources are most readily available. Their diet is not exclusively meat-based; it includes a significant amount of plant matter, such as fruit, berries, and grasses. Studies of the Golden jackal, for example, have shown that plant material can make up close to 20% of their consumed biomass.
The majority of their intake consists of small animals, insects, and carrion, demonstrating both predatory and scavenging tendencies. This adaptability allows them to thrive in environments ranging from open savannas to agricultural landscapes and the edges of human settlements. They are mesocarnivores, weighing between 8 and 14 kilograms, which places them in a size category that benefits from a varied diet. They easily switch feeding habits in response to seasonal changes or fluctuations in prey populations, ensuring survival when food sources are scarce.
Active Hunting Strategies
Jackals are adept hunters with physical adaptations suited to actively catching live prey. Their long legs and lithe build allow them to trot over great distances and pursue smaller, fast-moving animals. They primarily target prey much smaller than themselves, such as small rodents, reptiles, ground-dwelling birds, and insects. A common technique involves a stealthy spot-and-stalk approach, using acute hearing to locate prey, sometimes detecting rodents moving up to 30 centimeters underground.
Once prey is located, they employ a characteristic fast pounce to dispatch the animal quickly. While often hunting alone, jackals, especially bonded pairs, engage in cooperative hunting to take down slightly larger targets. This teamwork can involve flanking a young antelope or small ungulate from different angles, increasing the likelihood of a successful capture. Black-backed jackals have been observed occasionally forming small packs to hunt prey like impala, typically targeting animals that are young, old, or in poor condition.
The Importance of Carrion in Jackal Survival
Despite their hunting prowess, jackals rely heavily on consuming carrion, which is a reliable, low-energy food source. Scavenging is an integral part of their feeding strategy, especially in ecosystems with larger predators. They shadow apex predators like lions or hyenas, waiting patiently for them to finish their meal before moving in on the leftovers. This behavior reduces the energy expenditure required for a successful hunt.
Jackals also consume carcasses from natural die-offs, roadkill, and even human refuse around villages, acting as important biological cleaners in the ecosystem. The ability to consume carrion is particularly valuable during lean seasons or periods of drought when live prey is difficult to find. In parts of Europe, some jackal populations subsist mainly on small mammals and livestock carcasses which they did not actively kill. This flexible use of dead matter alongside active predation confirms the jackal is a versatile survivor, equally proficient as a hunter and a scavenger.