There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
Almost everywhere in Africa they live among much more powerful predators, lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, but they are clearly fascinating animals which fully deserve a topic about them...
" Black-Backed Jackal in full flight at Etosha National Park in Namibia. "
Jens Cullmann:" ‘Jackal special of the day: food for thought’
A jackal feeding on a gemsbok carcass paying close attention to its surroundings in the Kalahari. These animals are characterized by their patience and team work and they can be scavengers or predators. I was surprised to find out how the jackal has been commonly used across legends and literature (including the Bible!) to symbolize ‘opportunistic behaviour, desolation and loneliness’, not an attractive image there. More on jackals later, "
In the thick of a vultures scrum, a lone jackal comes to grab a piece of flesh. Let the feast begin !
Beverly Joubert:" With the glow of the afternoon sun quickly fading, this black-backed jackal surged through a mass of vultures in an attempt to claim a spot at the dinner table. The giraffe was already dead when we found it – presumably from old age – and a slew of scavengers had moved in for the feast. Although there was plenty of food to go around, sharing is not a trait possessed by hungry carnivores, and much squabbling and tussling ensued as those present competed for prime position at the carcass. It may seem like an unceremonious end for the giraffe, but its demise helps fuel a cyclical ecosystem. In this unforgiving landscape, everyone has a role to play."
African Jackals
