Catching the Elusive Night Hunter: A Modern Day Jackal Chase on Sylt
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Nighttime Hunters Pursue the Elusive Nocturnal Golden Jackal on Sylt Island - Nocturnal Gold Jackal Hunters Pursue Elusive Creature at Night
The hunt is on for the elusive golden jackal in Sylt, leading some local farmers to desperation. This nocturnal invader has claimed the lives of 90 lambs and sheep since its arrival on May 19, prompting a special permit for its termination.
Chasing the nocturnal golden jackal, however, is no easy feat, admits Manfred Uekermann, deputy head of the North Friesland Hunting Association, to the German Press Agency (dpa). "This is a formidable challenge, but it's not impossible," he affirms.
With adrenaline pumping and strategies at the ready, the hunters solicit assistance from experts, delve into literature, and even employ loudspeakers for added advantage.
The Shepherds of Sylt are developing unease
At the end of May, the elusive predator took the lives of 78 lambs and two ewes in three terrible nights on a riverbank, as the affected Keitum dyke shepherd relayed to dpa. Daniela Andersen, the shepherd overseeing the stretch of land from Morsum to Rantum, is home to 900 ewes. "The fear of another attack haunts us every day," she laments.
Protection for her animals at night is a daunting task for Andersen. "Driving them into a shed every evening with dogs and a car is like running them down—it's stressful for the animals and impairs milk production," she admits. Additionally, housing them in a high fence isn't a viable option on the expansive, public dyke.
The golden jackal's pursuit continues
Not only has the predator been active along the riverbank, but it has also moved into the island's northern territory, specifically in the Lister Ellenbogen nature reserve. The affected shepherd has suffered losses of ten lambs over the past two weeks, and just as many injured, intones shepherd Jürgen Wolf-Diedrichsen. Mr. Diedrichsen can't shelter his approximately 220 ewes and their lambs each night, as the vast, open area would amplify stress levels even more. A fence is, again, a non-starter on the 600-hectare stretch of land.
The State officially allows for the elimination of the jackal
In response to the devastating losses, the State Office for the Environment has issued a permit for the gold jackal's neutralization. The Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of the Environment confirmed the granting of the permit, effective July 1, and valid until July 31. It's important to note that the golden jackal isn't designated as a hunt-able species in Schleswig-Holstein.
Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt (Greens) underlined that the golden jackal falls under the category of particularly protected species. A permit for its elimination requires extraordinary circumstances. The minister explains, "The situation presents three compelling reasons, so I support the State Office for the Environment's exception permit."
His reasoning lies in preventing further damage to livestock, averting a threat to ground-nesting birds, and upholding the significance of dyke sheep farming for coastal protection. This could mark the first officially approved and confirmed golden jackal shooting in Germany, as per the German Hunting Association (DJV).
The Hunt is Afoot
All resident Sylt hunters authorized to do so can join the golden jackal hunt, Uekermann reassures. The Sylt hunting association covers ten hunting grounds with around 120 hunters, including approximately 20 to 30 hunters joining the golden jackal pursuit. Their weapons meet legal requirements to eradicate the animal instantly. A tranquilization and capture alternative is not feasible, as hunters would need to get too close to the animal with tranquilizer darts and risk increased danger.
Luring with calls
Thomas Diedrichsen, deputy leader of the hunting association, is at the helm of the operation. The jackal sighted in Rantum on the night of May 19th had been lured with golden jackal calls via speakers. "When it reacts to the calls, we know its location," Diedrichsen shares. Diedrichsen stands firm on not sparing the hunting approach. "If we were to relinquish sheep farming, we might as well give up."
Golden jackals are making their presence known
Originating in Southeast Asia and Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe, per the German Wildlife Foundation, golden jackals have found their way to Germany in recent years. The first recorded appearance in the country was in 1997 via various European locations. The foundation notes that they have now been spotted in most German states with no threats to human safety reported thus far.
Although the local landscape has yet to see these jackals, the sightings have been on the rise in Schleswig-Holstein, especially since 2017 when the first signs appeared in the Dithmarschen district. By May 2024 to April 2025, the state reported five sightings alone, indicating that Schleswig-Holstein might prove to be an attractive habitat to the golden jackals.
- Sylt
- Germany
- Sheep
- Hunter
- Golden jackal
- Hunting
- Rantum
- Shepherd
- Lister Ellenbogen nature reserve
- North Frisia
- State Office for the Environment
- Carnivore
- Schleswig-Holstein
- German Press Agency
- Dyke
- Car
- BMU
- Milk production
- Livestock
- In the midst of the golden jackal hunt, environmental concerns arise, with discussions about the impact on ground-nesting birds and the importance of preserving the environment.
- The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), a well-known environmental advocacy group, suggests implementing less invasive methods, such as using loudspeakers to scare the predators away or employing guard dogs. They also emphasize the importance of creating safe spaces for both livestock and wildlife to coexist harmoniously, promoting a healthier environment.
