In recent days, through conversations with our neighbors, we found out that jackals had appeared in our area.
People started complaining that they couldn’t sleep at night, haunted by eerie cries – like the sound of a child crying, only much louder and far more unsettling.
Just above our kennel lies Mount Juhor, and only a few kilometers across from us flows the Morava River.
Wild boars are known to be nearby, and while I can’t say much about bears or wolves, one question kept echoing in my mind – where did these jackals come from?
That curiosity pushed me to dig deeper into the subject online …
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The jackal (Canis aureus) resembles both the fox and the wolf but is smaller in size. Adults measure up to 120 cm in length, with around 30 cm belonging to the tail, stand about 50 cm tall, and weigh close to 10 kg.
A mix of gray, yellow, and reddish shades colors the coat, while the tail ends with a distinct black tip.
It lives in northwestern Asia and northern Africa, while in Europe it can be found in the forests of the Balkans as well as in the Pannonian Plain. It is considered a very harmful and bloodthirsty species.
Social structure revolves around monogamous pairs that guard their territory with remarkable aggression, marking boundaries with urine and droppings.
Hunting strategies range from solitary searches to chases where groups drive prey toward one another. A single jackal rarely threatens humans, but a pack can endanger livestock and, in rare situations, unattended pets.
Reproduction explains much of their population growth. Breeding occurs in February or March, with a gestation period of 60–63 days.
Litters usually number five to eight pups, born in April or May. Mothers nurse and protect them for about two months, and by the third month the young begin seeking food on their own.
Independence comes by the fourth month, sexual maturity arrives after one year, and life expectancy can reach 15 years. [1]
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Jackals Pushed Too Close to the Kennel
We informed our neighbors that if what they were saying was true, we would take certain measures.
We also warned them that if they saw any of our dogs in their yard in the morning, they shouldn’t be afraid (we would come to bring them back).
One evening, my father heard terrifying cries outside. He stepped out to see what was happening. The jackals had come around 1 a.m., right near our kennel (September 4th).
Our dogs were ready for action, barking loudly, and one of them separated from the rest. He started howling, clearly determined to leave his own territory at any cost.
On this occasion, we released only one dog. Sarplaninac Ris FCI 4302, who had already led the defense during the previous encounter, treated this as nothing more than a simple walk through the fields.
The moment he stepped out of our yard, he crossed the road and went straight after the jackals.
An hour later, he returned (his task successfully completed).
Hello! I'm Alen Stefanovic, founder and writer for AwesomeSarplaninac.com.
I grew up with Šarplaninac dogs, learning everything from my father, who has been a dedicated breeder of the breed since 1990. This hands-on experience provides the foundation for all the knowledge I share.
My primary role here is to provide you with unique, firsthand information. On this site, you will find comprehensive resources covering Šarplaninac ownership, providing valuable care and training insights applicable to puppies and dogs in general.
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