DISTRIBUTION
SWITZERLAND
The first picture of a golden jackal in Switzerland was taken during the lynx monitoring in the north-western Alps in the winter 2011/12. After that, there were no other records until another golden jackal was pictured in the Surselva in the winter 2015/16. Shortly thereafter and close-by, a young male golden jackal (presumably the same one) was shot by a hunter (press release by the Cantonal Office for Hunting and Fishery Grisons, 13.01.2016). On 23 March 2016, a weakened golden jackal was shot in the canton of Schwyz (press release by the Cantonal Department for the Environment, 23.03.2016). Since then, observations of golden jackals occur regularly. The immigration happens from the south-east, but there have already been records near Geneva. Dispersing young golden jackals can travel long distances and can consequently appear anywhere in Switzerland.
Records of golden jackals are also presented in the Monitoring Center.
Golden jackal records in Switzerland January-December 2021 according to their SCALP category (Red = category 1, “hard facts”; blue = category 2, confirmed reports; green = category 3, non-verifiable reports). Due to the dangers of mistaking signs of golden jackals with those of other canids, the category 2 is recorded as category 3.
© KORA/GIS
Golden jackal records in Switzerland 2017-2020
Golden jackal records in Switzerland January-December 2020 according to their SCALP category (Red = category 1, “hard facts”; blue = category 2, confirmed reports; green = category 3, non-verifiable reports). Due to the dangers of mistaking signs of golden jackals with those of other canids, the category 2 is recorded as category 3.
© KORA/GIS
Golden jackal records in Switzerland January-December 2019 according to their SCALP category (Red = category 1, “hard facts”; blue = category 2, confirmed reports; green = category 3, non-verifiable reports). Due to the dangers of mistaking signs of golden jackals with those of other canids, the category 2 is recorded as category 3.
© KORA/GIS
Golden jackal records in Switzerland 2018 according to their SCALP category (Red = category 1, “hard facts”; blue = category 2, confirmed reports; green = category 3, non-verifiable reports).
© KORA/GIS
Golden jackal records in Switzerland 2017 according to their SCALP category (Red = category 1, “hard facts”; blue = category 2, confirmed reports; green = category 3, non-verifiable reports).
© KORA/GIS
EUROPE
Monitoring and management are traditionally organised by the individual countries. However, all viable golden jackal populations expand over international boundaries. The network Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe, an IUCN/SSC specialist group, periodically collects the most recent data on the status, management and distribution of the carnivores in Europe.
Distribution of the golden jackal in Europe
Distribution of the golden jackal in Europe based on a 10 x 10 km grid and data from 2012–2016. Dark green = permanent presence (presence confirmed in at least 3 of the 5 years, or reproduction confirmed within the last 3 years), light green = sporadic presence (presence confirmed in less than 3 of the 5 years), blue = possible presence (weak evidence, possibly only rare vagrants). No data was available from country areas coloured white.
© LCIE
GLOBAL
Distribution of the golden jackal according to the assessment for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2018.
TAXONOMY
The golden jackal (Canis aureus) belongs to the family Canidae. Until recently, the distribution in Africa was regarded as a subspecies of Canis aureus. In 2015, genetic research revealed the former African subspecies to be closer related to the wolf (Canis lupus) than to the golden jackal. Consequently, the African golden wolf (Canis anthus) is now regarded as a separate species. Data from genetic and morphometric studies suggest that all golden jackals from Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus belong to the same subspecies Canis aureus moreotica. However, the division of the global distribution into subspecies is still unclear.