Golden Jackal

Golden Jackals are an ancient breed of wild canid that are native to Southeast and Central Europe, Southeast Asia, North and Northeast Africa, and the Middle East. There have been many mentions of the Golden Jackal in folklore throughout the world and their prominence and symbolism can't be understated. The ancient Egyptian God Anubis was portrayed as a man with the head of a Jackal, and Indigenous stories and folklore such as the Jakatas and Panchatantra depict Golden Jackals as highly intelligent, wily creatures. Most active at night and during the cooler periods of the day, these expert trackers and fast hunters are known to inhabit the dense thickets, forested areas, and floodplains and are capable of hunting for long hours. Golden Jackals are omnivores, and opportunistic ones at that, feasting on everything from grass, berries, and fruits to hares, rodents, reptiles, gazelles, birds, eggs, and even carrion.