Golden Jackal Stirs Concerns in Hanau, Hesse
Hanau, Hesse — In your typical suburban backdrop, a surprising cast of characters has made an appearance. We're talking about golden jackals, spotted in recent times in Hanau, a city in Hesse known for its diverse immigrant population.
These intriguing creatures have entered Germany's radar with a bang — 25 sightings since 2020! — but one recent event has sparked particular interest. The DNA of a golden jackal was discovered on the carcasses of two dead sheep in Biebergemünd, a district in Roßbach, Hesse.
Tracing the Cause of Death: New Predator Scare
Initially, the assumption was wolves — these elusive creatures with an active presence in Ried and Reinhardswald. But a closer examination of the carcasses revealed a different tale. Trace elements of a golden jackal were also detected, leading to speculation.
Stefan Schlagenhauer, a researcher at Wolfs Zentrum, expressed concern that the golden jackal could have played a role in the sheep's demise, although its diet traditionally consists of birds, amphibians, and young gazelles. The size of the predated sheep, however, could have piqued the jackal's interest.
The Golden Jackal: A New Challenge in the Predator Game
A far cry from the pack animals like wolves, golden jackals are solitary hunters. They weigh around 10 kilograms and reach up to 50 centimeters in height. Although they live in pairs, they tend to maintain their 'marriage-like' companionship away from the pack. Jackals can sprint at a speed of 65 kilometers per hour, making them formidable hunters in the predator game.
Gold and Gray: The Unassuming Danger
Golden jackals are generally peaceful creatures, posing no known threat to humans. Their primary food sources include small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Their diet varies according to their habitat, with young gazelles making a notable exception in their native India.
The Mystery of the Sheep: A Tale of Two Predators
Despite the jackals' unassuming nature, the discovery of their DNA on the sheep carcasses has raised eyebrows. There's no definite answer yet—was the jackal a victim, a marauder, or a scavenger?
Wolves, for their part, are experts at hunting larger animals. However, their activity in the Reinhardswald and Ried areas has been high, making them a known culprit. So who's the culprit: the wolf, the jackal, or both? That remains a mystery unraveling in the heart of Hesse.
