Gold jackals conquer Baden-Württemberg: The new wild animals are there!

Gold jackals conquer Baden-Württemberg: The new wild animals are there!

Baden-Württemberg, Deutschland - The gold jackal is increasingly spreading in Germany, especially in Baden-Württemberg. Experts from the SWR today reported that the species is expected to be established in the region in about ten years. This assessment falls on the international day of the jackal, which will be celebrated on April 19. The forestry and research institute (FVA) in Baden-Württemberg monitors the growing population with the help of wild cameras that have increasingly documented gold jackals since 2019.

In 2025, 23 sightings have already been recorded in various counties such as Karlsruhe, Böblingen and in the Enzkreis. The reproduction of gold jackals was also found in the Black Forest Baar district and in the district of Konstanz. "The exact number of gold jackals in Baden-Württemberg remains unknown, but experts suspect that more animals are present than documented," said an FVA expert. The flexibility of the animals when choosing their habitat enables them to efficiently spread from Southeast Europe, the Balkans, Poland and the Czech Republic.

distribution and reproduction

War heating could benefit the gold jackal in the region because mild winter promotes reproduction. Gold jackals are mainly twilight and avoid direct encounters with people so that they are harmless to them. They have a diverse food spectrum: from small animals to insects to fruits and AAS. This dietary diversity contributes to disease control in the ecosystem.

research initiatives and challenges

The FVA reports that gold jackals are often confused with foxes. FVA expert Felix Böcker points out that confusion with young wolves or similar dogs are theoretically possible. In order to cope with these challenges, scientists rely on species detection dogs, photo traps and the support of the hunters. By the end of 2019, 24 proven gold jackals in Germany were documented, and over 60 more were added in 2020, including sightings in the Allgäu and in the Ravensburg district.

The Goldschakal Germany card offers a visual instrument to present the spread and frequency of sightings. This card, which was last updated on April 18, 2025, identifies hotspots and supports environmental authorities in planning protective measures. It is also a valuable aid for research to analyze the distribution patterns and habitat preferences of the gold jackal

The gold jackal is protected in the European Union under Appendix V of the Flora-Fauna Habitat Directive. In Germany, the killing, hunting or catching of gold jackals by the Federal Nature Conservation Act and the Federal ARGE Protection Ordinance are not permitted. The observations of these fascinating animals show how dynamically the ecosystem in Baden-Württemberg changes and what challenges and opportunities this kind bring.