In Touch With Nature – Black-backed Jackals #SouthernAfricanwildlife #Intouchwithnature
Posted: February 26, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized 95 Comments
This month, I am introducing you to the black-backed jackal, one of my favourite creatures to see in the bush. They are incredibly quick so getting a decent photograph is difficult. On our last bush trip to Babanango Private Game Reserve in Kwa-Zulu Natal, one decided to post beautifully for me and I got some amazing pictures of this small dog-like creature.
The black-backed jackal, also called the silver-backed jackal, is a medium sized canine native to eastern and southern Africa. These animals are known for their cunning and daring and are sometimes seen nipping into a lion kill and stealing a choice morsel. The black-backed jackal feeds on small mammals, reptiles, birds, eggs, carrion and fruit. They are scavengers but also hunt in their own right.
Five interesting facts about black-backed jackals:
- These creatures are highly vocal. In the early evenings, individuals frequently make high, wailing calls to one another until an unearthly chorus builds up. They also make a continuous yapping sound when tailing a predator like a lion or a leopard, often giving the predator away to its potential prey.
- Fossil deposits have revealed that the black-backed jackal is one of the oldest known dog species. It has remained in its current form for up to 2,5 million years.
- Black-backed jackals are monogamous and form life-long pair bonds. Another interesting fact is that the youngsters from the prior year’s litter often stay around to help their parents raise their next lot of pups before setting out on their own breeding adventure.
- Black-backed jackals are one of the most significant vectors of rabies in southern Africa. They have been associated with epidemics with occur in four to eight year cycles.
- In Khoikhoi folklore, the black-backed jackal frequently travels with the lion which is usually outwits due to its higher intelligence. You can read one of these stories here: https://sacred-texts.com/afr/saft/sft09.htm
My YouTube video of a black-backed jackal up close and personal:
Jackal Love
A black backed jackal couple
Dash across the road
Happy to spend his life in monogamy
He courts his future bride
And they mate for life
***
“What would you like, my dear
for your wedding feast?
How about a yummy dung beetle or two?
Or some tasty locusts?
A meal for a king”
***
Life couldn’t be better
For the newly weds
Then the lion pride makes a wildebeest kill
Leftovers for dinner
When they are finished
The above poem is from my poetry collection, Lion Scream: Syllabic Poetry about Southern African Wildlife available from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Scream-Syllabic-Southern-Wildlife-ebook/dp/B0BXP5N766
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of sixteen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of three poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
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It has big ears, in proportion to the body. I love it, Robbie,! I’m glad it posed for you to take beautiful photos!
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Hi Miriam, it does have big ears. They are clever animals and nice looking too.
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Thank you for sharing Robbie.
So kind of the jackal to pose for you.🤗
A really beautiful animal.
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Hi Maggie, it was a lucky sighting. We always have marvelous lunch in the bush. We saw a vulture this morning. I was so excited. We on our way home now.
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Sounds lovely Robbue.
Safe home my friend.
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Thank you
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what handsome, alert animals they are; I like the whimsy of this domestic setting 🙂
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Thank you, John. I do enjoy these animals. They are very gutsy.
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that is a great trait !
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😃🩷
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bit puzzled by what’s in that frame, Robbie ?
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It was just an acknowledgement of your comment that its a great trait – it should be a smile and a heart but … you never know with WP.
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thanks Robbie: it was a square with letters and numerals inside: as you say, a WP concoction 🙂
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Oh dear, that is a new glitch. I can’t like posts because WP doesn’t allow it, that is why I acknowledge using an emoticon. Oh well, onwards and upwards.
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all good, Robbie 🙂
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Wonderful, educational post about the black-backed jackal, Robbie! I enjoyed your “wedding” poem; I hope the creature couple sent you an invitation. 🙂 Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne!
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Sadly, I was not invited to the wedding, Dave. I did enjoy the show this youngster put on for us though.
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Ha, Robbie! 😂 The invite might have been lost in the mail. 🙂
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Haha, yes, that must be it.
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🙂
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Always a pleasure, Dave. ☺️
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🙂
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I hadn’t heard of black-backed jackals before. Thank you for introducing these animals to us, with some educational background. The jackals are beautiful in your photos! And that’s a fun poem of a new couple 🙂
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Hi DAve, I really enjoy these jackals. They are so handsome and quick too. They run rings around the larger predators and I admire that.
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Robbie, this little guy is wonderful. Glad he wasn’t camera shy.
They look so much like our coyote. They must be related? Coyotes also have a place in the native American folklore as a crafty trickster.
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Hi Kaye, yes, indeed, coyotes and jackals are relatives and both part of the dog family. I enjoy them very much.
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I have a pack that comes through regularly and I swear, they tease my dog, who is in a fenced yard. I think they all talk back and forth to each other. 🙂
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I am sure they do. Dogs are clever
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he likes to pose
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He really did.
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I’ve never seen one of these creatures before. Thanks for the info, Robbie.
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My pleasure, Stevie. They are not that different to English foxes.
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Robbie, the jackal is very cute! I’ve never seen one, but that’s why I love your photos. I remember this couple from Lion Scream.
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HI Colleen, yes, I still like this poem. Jackals make me smile.
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These little guys seem more dog-like to me. Much smaller too.
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Yes, they are part of the dog family.
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I love the long bushy tail, the intelligent eyes, the big listening ears.
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Hi Jacqui, I agree. These are very handsome creatures.
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Beautiful poem, love is sharing a dung beetle, and mating for life.
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Yes, indeed. An interesting dinner date.
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Such good looking creatures! I love your photos, Robbie and your sweet poem.
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Thank you, Punam. These are delightful little creatures
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You are welcome, Robbie.
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Studying Nature is like a mirror.
It helps us understand ourselves
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HI Wayne, that is true. Sadly, people seem to view animals through an entirely different lens and thus think we can’t learn from them.
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“The Sheep will spend it’s entire life fearing the Wolf, only to be eaten by the Shepard”
African proverb
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Yes, I know that one and its true.
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Cute.
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Thanks, Andrew
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You’re welcome.
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Wonderful post!
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Thank you, Dawn
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Amazing creatures. You got some great photos. Thanks for sharing.
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I was delighted with these pictures, Darlene. Such a cute creature.
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Amazing pictures, especially the last one. The jackal looks intense, and the black tail is pretty awesome.
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Hi Edward, I do enjoy these little guys. They remind me of the foxes in Fantastic Mr Fox by Ronald Dahl.
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Oh, wow, Fantastic Mr Fox. It has been a while since I last heard this.
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It is one of my favourite books.
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Well, he’s just adorable. I love that they stick around and help raise the next litter of kids.
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Hi Teri, that is interesting and unusual.
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Sounds like they have an excellent family life, which is probably why they have been around for so long!
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Yes, these animals are real survivors
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Once again, we should be listening to the animals.
😊
Thanks Robbie.
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Yes, we should. Thanks, Patty
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They are very fox-like in their faces. I like the different shadings in their fur too. (K)
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Hi Kerfe, yes, they do have a fox-like look. I enjoy these little guys very much.
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Those ears give jackals a very distinctive look. I’ve only seen them in a zoo.
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Hi Pete, yes, the ears are large and give them a very cute look.
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Fascinating information about jackals! I think this is the first time I’ve seen photos of them.
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Hi Liz, yes, these are new pictures I took in January at Babanango Game REserve.
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Cool!
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Cool animal that often gets overlooked. Great pictures, too.
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Fantastic facts and photos, Robbie. How tall is an average black-backed jackal? It’s amazing that they’ve remained unchanged for 2.5 million years!
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This is what Wikipedia says about them: They are about the size of domestic dogs, growing to 27 to 33 inches (70 to 85 centimeters) shoulder to rump, with a tail length of about 10 inches (25 cm). They measure 96-110cm (38-43in) from the head to the end of the body, and stand 30-48cm (12-19in) tall at the shoulders. They range in size from 11 to 22 pounds.
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Aww, how lovely!
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It was a terrific sighting.
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Fantastic photos, Robbie. And the poem made me smile.
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Thank you, Jan
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How exciting to be able to get such lovely photos of a beautiful animal.
Lovely poem.
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Thank you, it was a great sighting.
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They are so cute! I love those big ears!
Great photos and information. It’s sad about rabies though.
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Lots of small predators are rabies vectors. The mongoose is another. It is good to be aware of it not that I would touch a wild animal. They all bite.
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Yes, that’s always true. It’s the same here.
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I’m in love with the Black backed jackal!
OMG! How adorable.
The poem is … cute, lovable/loving, warm and a lovely tribute to this sweet, yet wild animal.
Thank you, Robbie!
Thank you Kaye Lynne!
(Every time I read about Robbie’s animals, I feel a fuzzy rush about being a vegetarian. That might sound corny, but I love the animals.)
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Hi Resa, I also eat very little meat but my family are meat eaters. I am very pleased you like these adorable little fellows. I was so delighted this one decided to pose for me.
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Gorgeous!
I am so happy you take pics of wildlife!!!!
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🙂 ❤
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Another amazing post Robbie and fabulous photographs… I remember the poem from the collection but seeing the images added a wonderful new element. xxxx
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Wonderful, Robbie. Thanks for sharing your pics and the poem. What incredible animals!
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Your photos & poetry posts are always terrific, Robbie.
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[…] Enjoy the photographs and poem: Southern African Wildlife […]
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I liked finding out more about the black backed jackel
our topic in school about Africa was really enjoyable and interesting.
but the Jackel was overlooked.
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Thank you, Sue. There are many wonderful creatures here in Southern Africa so the children would have benefited from learning about any of them. I enjoy these little guys and I am spoiled for choice as we visit the bush often.
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I’m glad you were able to see them, Robbie. They are handsome animals, looking a bit like coyotes.
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Thanks, Carla, I was thrilled. These jackals and coyotes are the same family.
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