Eurasian Golden Jackal (Mr Angry - 3)
Danube Delta | Romania
There are three species of jackal - the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus), the Black-backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas) and the Side-striped Jackal (Canis adustus). The two latter species are only found in Africa, whereas the Golden Jackal is now classified as a sole Eurasian species - although, until recently, was regarded as having a number of subspecies across northern and eastern Africa. A recent study published in 2015, shows that the African subspecies were not properly related and, as such, those six subspecies are now to be reclassified as a totally separate species to be known as the African Golden Wolf (Canis anthus).
As a point of interest, the lineage of the Golden Jackal shows that it is more closely related to the Grey Wolf and American Coyote than it is to the other two jackal species.
The Golden Jackal has seven subspecies (previously thirteen with the six African subspecies) across its full European and Asian range. The largest population is found through middle Asia and, in that area, the subspecies is usually just called the Common Jackal. The other Asian subspecies are the Indian, Sri Lankan, Syrian, Siamese, and Pannonian Jackal.
The European Golden Jackal is the largest. This was the species that we wanted to see and photograph on our recent trip to the Danube Delta, as the open flat shrublands, reeded areas and floodplains around where we were staying was one of the best places in Europe to both see and photograph it. Although its range is slowly extending both northward and westward the species' main concentration in Europe remains along the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts.
They are extremely timid and, although they will roam and hunt during daylight, they will retreat very quickly if they hear or sense human presence, consequently your only realistic chance of photographing them is from a hide. Personally I don’t like hides for various reasons, but I’ve started to realise that they are almost a necessity for certain species. Even though we travel a fair bit and have had some great experiences, there is no guarantee or easy way to get good wildlife photos, so we take opportunities when we can get them.
The weather in Romania wasn’t great during most of our visit as you can see from many of my eagle shots, but that didn’t deter the jackals. We saw them during two long morning sessions in the hide - mainly at distance and always on guard. They ventured closer only when the eagles were present. This was strange in a way, because whilst the eagles gave them the confidence that it was safe to approach, the first thing the jackals would do was to chase the eagles off!.
Well, that's it, the final five images I'm going to post from this trip. Same into above as yesterday
Eurasian Golden Jackal (Mr Angry - 3)
Danube Delta | Romania
There are three species of jackal - the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus), the Black-backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas) and the Side-striped Jackal (Canis adustus). The two latter species are only found in Africa, whereas the Golden Jackal is now classified as a sole Eurasian species - although, until recently, was regarded as having a number of subspecies across northern and eastern Africa. A recent study published in 2015, shows that the African subspecies were not properly related and, as such, those six subspecies are now to be reclassified as a totally separate species to be known as the African Golden Wolf (Canis anthus).
As a point of interest, the lineage of the Golden Jackal shows that it is more closely related to the Grey Wolf and American Coyote than it is to the other two jackal species.
The Golden Jackal has seven subspecies (previously thirteen with the six African subspecies) across its full European and Asian range. The largest population is found through middle Asia and, in that area, the subspecies is usually just called the Common Jackal. The other Asian subspecies are the Indian, Sri Lankan, Syrian, Siamese, and Pannonian Jackal.
The European Golden Jackal is the largest. This was the species that we wanted to see and photograph on our recent trip to the Danube Delta, as the open flat shrublands, reeded areas and floodplains around where we were staying was one of the best places in Europe to both see and photograph it. Although its range is slowly extending both northward and westward the species' main concentration in Europe remains along the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts.
They are extremely timid and, although they will roam and hunt during daylight, they will retreat very quickly if they hear or sense human presence, consequently your only realistic chance of photographing them is from a hide. Personally I don’t like hides for various reasons, but I’ve started to realise that they are almost a necessity for certain species. Even though we travel a fair bit and have had some great experiences, there is no guarantee or easy way to get good wildlife photos, so we take opportunities when we can get them.
The weather in Romania wasn’t great during most of our visit as you can see from many of my eagle shots, but that didn’t deter the jackals. We saw them during two long morning sessions in the hide - mainly at distance and always on guard. They ventured closer only when the eagles were present. This was strange in a way, because whilst the eagles gave them the confidence that it was safe to approach, the first thing the jackals would do was to chase the eagles off!.
Well, that's it, the final five images I'm going to post from this trip. Same into above as yesterday