236 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — Sept., 1922. 



is red jackal or rooi jakhals. Another species which probably also 

 does damag-e is the -side-striped jackal (Caww- adustus), but as it 

 occurs, so far as is at present known, only in the low country of the 

 eastern and northern Transvaal northwards, whence no replies have 

 been received, it does not for the present concern us. The following' 

 account deals only with the black-backed jackal. 



Where the Jackal is Found. 



The replies do not furnish a true indication of the distribution 

 of the jackal in the Union, as they have come from parts only where 

 sheep farming is largely undertaken and where the animal does much 

 mischief. Erom many other districts no replies were received, and 

 as it is known that in some of them the jackal is still to be found, 

 while in others it has been so harried that it is practically non-^ 

 existent, all that can be said is that, judg-ing- by the replies, the 

 animal is a serious pest only in the Cape Province from the Karroo 

 and karrooide districts northwards to the western districts of the 

 Orange Free State and Transvaal and the great dry districts west 

 of these Provinces; on the east, one district of Natal and the low 

 country of Zululand alone are mentioned. Were we to judge by the 

 silence of farmers from the rest of the country, Ave might conclude 

 that closer settlement has been responsible for the disappearance of 

 the animal; but, on the other hand, in some of the districts in the 

 Cape Province, where the jackal is very troublesome, Europeans have 

 been in occupation now for over a hundred years, and the only 

 conclusion that can be arrived at is that shelter is afforded there in 

 thorny bush, mountains, or great stretches of unoccupied or sparsely 

 inhabited land, which cannot be properly hitnted over. 



It is stated in the replies that in many districts jackals are as 

 plentiful now as they ever were within living memory; in two cases, 

 indeed, they are said to have been formerly unknown and sheep were 

 able to remain out at night without injuiy. In other districts there 

 are said to be fewer jackals than formerly, but those that have 

 remained are more destructive and diilicult to capture or kill. In 

 a few districts an increase in number has been noted in recent years. 



Local Movements. 



It is clear that migration in the usual sense does not occur. 

 Many writers state that the jackal is always present in their districts, 

 but that local movements take place, wliich are expressed in the 

 following replies, chosen from the number received : " Jackals have 

 no^ fixed abode, but roam about, unless they have young in the 

 neighbourhood.'' " They generally live in the mountains Avhen not 

 breeding; but in times of drought, or when their natural food is 

 scarce they follow the trekking flocks of sheep from one district to 

 another and devour the dead or weak sheep left out at the resting 

 place of the previous night; thus jackals are brought in from other 

 districts.'" "When poisoning is carried out extensively they seem 

 to disappear (become much less) on the farm, onlj- to return in from 

 two to four months." "In the past jackals gave a lot of trouble 

 about August, but did not trouble so much after 15th October, it 

 being concluded that they appeared in the district to rear their 

 young and thereafter departed." "One very disturbing influence 



