Catching the Elusive Golden Jackal of Sylt Earlier Than Ever
- Earlier commencement of the Sylt-Chakal hunt announced.
The golden jackal on the island of Sylt is still causing a fuss amongst hunters, despite an exemption permit for its capture being issued. Thomas Diedrichsen, the deputy head of the hunting association coordinating the hunt on Sylt, spoke with the German Press Agency (dpa) about their recent tactics.
"We've set up several hideouts and positioned ourselves in Lister Koog and the Ellenbogen, with twelve hunters," said Diedrichsen. Now, the hunters are also taking their posts at various locations across the island during the night, adjusting their strategy based on a new discovery. "What we've found is that it doesn't wait until nightfall to begin its hunt, but starts around 10:15 pm when it's still bright on Sylt." This revelation has prompted the hunters to begin their vigil earlier in the evening.
However, Diedrichsen admits, "It's all for naught if we don't know where it is." A local veterinarian reported sightings of the jackal in Rantum on Sunday, but there have been no further reports of sheep or lambs being killed since Friday night.
The Sylt hunting association spans ten hunting grounds and consists of around 120 hunters. About 20 to 30 of them are actively involved in the hunt on the approximately 99 square kilometer island. In addition to using traditional high seats, various methods are being employed in the search for the elusive animal, though these are kept secret to avoid disturbing the peace.
Despite the secrecy, Diedrichsen remains hopeful for a successful hunt, expressing, "I hope we won't have to wait until the end of July to capture the animal."
Since May 19, the golden jackal has claimed the lives of 90 sheep and lambs on the island. This prompted the State Office for the Environment in Schleswig-Holstein to issue an artenschutzrechtliche exemption permit for shooting, which has been in effect since June 5 and expires on July 31. This permit would mark the first confirmed shooting of a golden jackal in Germany, according to the German Hunting Association (DJV).
- Sylt
- Hunters
- Golden Jackal
- Exemption Permit
- Hunt
- German Press Agency
The hunters on Sylt have adjusted their strategy, starting their vigil earlier in the evening to match the golden jackal's Hunting patterns. The Sylt hunting association, spanning ten hunting grounds and consisting of around 120 hunters, are actively employing various methods for the capture of the golden jackal, including vocational training sessions for their members in advanced hunting techniques, as suggested by Thomas Diedrichsen, the deputy head of the association.
