Open AccessThe golden jackal (Canis aureus) in the Tuzlivski Lymany National Nature Park
Author(s) -
I. Rusev
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
theriologia ukrainica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2617-1120
pISSN - 2616-7379
DOI - 10.15407/tu2007
Subject(s) - jackal , national park , geography , population , ecology , habitat , thicket , mangrove , mongoose , fauna , fishery , biology , archaeology , demography , sociology
The article presents data on the appearance, spatial distribution, and ecological features of the golden jackal in the Tuzlivski Lymany National Nature Park. The estimated abundance of the jackal population is given along with its influence on local fauna of the national nature park. During the 20 years since the first jackals were recorded in the Ukrainian Black Sea coast, the jackal has become well-adapted to natural ecosystems of the Tuzlivski Lymany National Nature Park. Suitable protection and foraging conditions are provided in the park for this predator by steppe areas, sandbars of the Black Sea coast, and the artificial Lebedivskiy forest. For nursing the puppies, in addition to open natural habitats, especially reeds of wetlands, shrubs in the artificial forest, the jackal also uses burrows dug by itself. Currently, there are at least five jackal groups in the territory of the park. The number of broods and size of jackal groups fluctuates depending on seasonal climatic conditions and water level in the estuaries, which determine the availability of food and the character of hunting. The number of jackals in the park and surrounding areas was higher in 2020 than in the period when the water level in the estuaries was higher, and the number of jackals reached about 150 specimens. The population density of jackals in the park and surrounding areas is about 10 specimens per 1000 hectares. During the five years of observations in 2015 to 2020, the number of jackals increased slightly in the Tuzlivski Lymany National Nature Park due to the expansion of dry meadows to areas of former shoals. The area of sandbars has also increased providing access to the island systems where birds used to nest making these lands attractive for jackals as foraging sites. There is no sharp tendency to increase in the number of common jackals in the park. However, due to the likelihood of infection and spread of rabies by this predator species, some recreational areas should use rabies vaccine for oral immunisation of carnivores against rabies, which was done in September 2020 in the Lebedivskiy Forest tract of the park.