The Monogamous Sri Lankan Jackal

Mahoora Tented Safari Camp - Wilpattu National Park 

Fun Facts
The Sri Lankan jackal, also known as the ‘Golden jackals’ practice a monogamous lifestyle! Through astute observations, naturalists and scientists have found that female jackals are fiercely protective of their partner and territory - especially from other female jackals. The restriction of access to other female intruders prevents the sharing of the female’s paternal investment and helps them raise families as a whole.

It is observed that in jackal families, there are at least one or two helpers, who are known as the ‘helpers’. These helpers are older jackals, who after reaching a certain age of sexual maturity, stay back and continue living with their parents for about a year and help their parents rear and raise their next litter - before leaving their parents to create their own families.

Lesser Known Facts
One serious concern for the continuity of the jackal population are the spread of natural diseases such as rabies and distemper. These diseases are known to cause a high mortality rate amongst these animals, which in turn endangers the continuity of their species. 

In addition to the spread of diseases, jackals are also hunted and persecuted as livestock predators and pets by neighboring farmers. However, the biggest threat to their existence is the alteration of traditional use of land - as some part of the jackals habitats are presently being turned into industrial areas and agricultural lands, which in turn leads to the reduction of their habitat and cover and also shortage of food.  

Where To Find Them
Golden jackals can be found throughout the island, but are less prevalent in the higher mountainous areas. They hold out an extensive number of jackals in marshy lands such as the Muthurajawela area, which is about 20 kilometers north of Colombo, and can also be found in the Thalangama Wet Lands and Bolgoda Lake in Colombo as well as all National Parks in the dry zones of Sri Lanka.