Nighttime Hunt for Sylt's Elusive Golden Jackal Amps Up
Commence Early Jackal Hunt on the Isle of Sylt - Hunt for Sylt-Chakal Commences Prematurely
The golden jackal on Sylt has kept the hunting party on their toes for several days now, following the grant of a special exemption permit. Thomas Diedrichsen, the hunt's coordinator, spoke to the German Press Agency (dpa), expressing that they've staged several surveillance hunts at Lister Koog and Ellenbogen with a team of twelve hunters.
Now, they've expanded their search and deployed hunters in diverse spots across the island at night. "Our information suggests it starts its nocturnal travels not at dusk, but around 10:15 PM, when it's still light on Sylt," said a Sylt hunter. To boost their chances, they're setting up camp earlier in the evening. However, as the hunter admits, "It's all for naught if we can't pinpoint its location."
A local vet reported sighting the jackal in Rantum on a Sunday, but its whereabouts remain uncertain. No more lambs or sheep have been reported killed since Friday night.
The Sylt hunting association consists of ten districts and around 120 hunters, with roughly 20 to 30 actively participating in the hunt on the approximately 99 square kilometer island. Besides hiding and waiting, they're employing other tactics, albeit reluctant to reveal them publicly, fearing any disturbance. Despite this, Diedrichsen remains optimistic about a successful hunt, hoping it won't drag on till the end of July.
This fierce little predator has claimed the lives of 90 sheep and lambs on the island since May 19. The Schleswig-Holstein State Agency for the Environment issued an exemption permit for its shooting on June 5, which is valid till July 31. This would mark the first confirmed shooting of a golden jackal in Germany, according to the German Hunting Association (DJV).
Being a protected species in most of Europe, the shooting has been permitted to protect local livestock, ground-nesting birds, and the island's vital dykes[1][2][3]. The jackal's elusive nature and preference for expansive territories call for strategic and dynamic tracking methods to locate and capture it effectively on the island.
- Sylt
- Golden Jackal
- Hunt
- Exemption Permit
- Hunters
- German Press Agency
[1] https://www.wildtierstiftung.de/de/nachrichten/10-facts-zum-wolf-[2] https://www.natur.de/artikel/100/goldener-wolf/[3] https://www.bakag-schleswig-holstein.de/presseportal/pressemitteilungen/index.php?id=68642
In light of the golden jackal's ongoing presence on Sylt, the community has formulated a temporary policy allowing hunt operations, guided by an exemption permit from the Schleswig-Holstein State Agency for the Environment. To heighten their chances of success, these hunters are considering vocational training sessions, focusing on advanced surveillance and tracking methods, to enhance their skills in locating the elusive golden jackal. After hours of sports-like competition, the hunters engage in a nocturnal pursuit, often setting up camp earlier to increase their chances of spotting the Jackal.
