Canis aureus
Ivan Bukvic · Serbia
The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a mammal related to wolves. It is native to Georgia and lives there year-round, especially in lowland areas. Its head and body are often about 70–85 cm long, and it often weighs 7–15 kg. Its tail is shorter than a fox’s. Globally, its risk of extinction is assessed as low.
Identification
It is a medium-sized predator that resembles a dog. Its fur is yellowish gray or sand-colored, often with a darker area on its back. Its tail is relatively short and usually has a dark tip. It lives in Georgia year-round.
In this species, the head and body together are often about 70–85 cm long, and the tail is about 20–30 cm long. Height at the shoulder is often about 40–50 cm, and weight is about 7–15 kg. Males are usually slightly larger than females. The snout is broader than a fox’s, the ears stand upright, and the legs are relatively long.
Its fur is yellowish gray, sandy or light brown. Its back often has a darker, saddle-shaped area where black and white hairs are mixed. Its belly is lighter. The tail is bushy, and its tip is usually dark rather than white. In winter, the fur is longer and darker. The African “golden jackal” is a different species—the African golden wolf (Canis lupaster)—and is not found in Georgia.
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is also found in Georgia. It has a narrower muzzle and a longer, bushy tail. The tail tip is often white, while the backs of its ears and the lower parts of its legs are black. The wolf (Canis lupus) is much larger, with longer legs and a heavier head. A free-roaming dog can also be similar in size and leave similar tracks. Ear shape, tail position and the sounds they make are not always enough to tell them apart. The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) was introduced to Georgia. It has shorter legs and mask-like markings on its face. It is not described separately on this page.
It is not venomous. Its bite or saliva could expose you to rabies. Do not pick it up, especially if it approaches you without fear, seems confused, or acts aggressively. Seeing it during the day can also be normal.
The jackal lives in both eastern and western Georgia. It is especially common in lowlands, including the Colchis Lowland. In recent decades, it has also been seen at higher elevations, up to 2,000 metres, though this is not a usual height for it. At the Ponichala reserve near Tbilisi, cameras recorded the jackal more often than any other mammal studied there in 2020–2021. There is also a photograph taken in the Lagodekhi Protected Areas in 2025. The map’s regional table shows only the records included on this page; it does not show the full extent of the jackal’s range in Georgia. Jackals live in various surroundings, including scrub, farmland and forest edges, where they can find food and places to hide.
The golden jackal map uses reviewed public iNaturalist photo observations from Georgia. Only regions marked confirmed in the records-by-region table are shaded as distribution; other points are individual records. Record counts reflect observation effort, not population density.
Data: Reptiles.ge + iNaturalist · Methodology
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Jackals eat small mammals, birds, insects, fruit, carrion, and scraps they find. What they eat varies by place and season. According to studies conducted in Europe, remains of domestic animals and large wild mammals found in jackals’ food were mostly linked to eating carrion. Finding such remains does not, by itself, prove that a jackal killed those animals.
Related guides
Questions
Short answers to the most important questions about Golden jackal.
Yes. It is considered native to Georgia. It appears on national lists of mammals and on the list of game animals.
Jackals live in both eastern and western Georgia, especially in lowland areas. Their presence has been confirmed in the Fonichala reserve, and they have been photographed in the Lagodekhi protected areas. The map on this page shows only the records that have been added, so it does not show everywhere jackals occur.
Look for yellowish-gray fur, an often darker area on the back, and a relatively short tail with a dark tip. A fox’s tail is longer and often has a white tip. A wolf is much larger. Color alone is not enough to tell them apart.
In this species, the head and body together are often about 70–85 cm long, and the tail is about 20–30 cm long. Weight is often about 7–15 kg.
Jackals eat small mammals, birds, insects, fruit and dead animals. What they eat varies by place and season. If a jackal eats the remains of a domestic animal, that does not always mean it hunted the animal.
It is mostly seen at dusk and at night, though it can also be seen during the day. Unlike many birds, it does not fly elsewhere with the seasons. Its cries are often heard.
Yes. The cry it uses to mark its territory can be heard from far away. This page uses xeno-canto audio recording XC1134910. There is no recording made in Georgia here.
It may bite, and there is also a risk of rabies. Do not go near it. If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention urgently. Being active during the day is not, by itself, a sign of rabies.
Globally, it is considered to face a low level of threat. This page does not treat it as a threatened species under Georgia’s 2014 Red List. It is a game species; the hunting season and permitted number are set by official rules.
References
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Prepared by the Reptiles.ge editorial team from the sources listed here.
