Name
Side Striped Jackal [Canis adustus]
Appearance
The Side Striped Jackal is a nocturnal animal that stands at 500mm at the shoulder and can weigh up to 12kg. It is a rather timid animal that has a multi-coloured coat with grey, beige, dark grey and brown. It has white stripes with black margins. With a dark tail that has a white tip. The ears are a dark buff colour.
Diet
The Jackal is an omnivorous animal that can eat a large variety of food and can change its diet depending on the environment. Its diet consists of small mammals, fruits, carrion, eggs, birds and reptiles. The side Striped jackal is less predatory than the Black Jackal.
Breeding
The Side Striped Jackal normally mate during June and July but has been known to mate throughout the year. After about 65 days of gestation, 4 – 6 pups are born, from August to November. The pups are reared by the mother with the assistance of the previous year’s litter. They excavate old termite or aardvark mounds to make their dens. Both parents assist in raising the pups after weaning. The parents will regurgitate food in the mouths of its young to feed them.
Behaviour
During the mating season pairs stay close together. These animals are highly territorial, with pairs ruling the territory with their young. The offspring will disperse when older to find their own territories. They are rather rare sightings during a Kruger Park Safari.
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