Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Kagga Kamma: A visit by Black-Backed Jackal



Shh, I’m on tip-toe. Don’t want to wake the neighbours!!

Wow! We’ve spotted a Canis Mesomelas - simply put, the Black-Backed Jackal. They are found only in Africa which makes them very special and unique to our country.
This species habitat ranges from small to large cities and the Namib Desert. The males are usually larger than females and they prefer large open land as opposed to dense bushy areas. Although their black hair runs from the back of their necks to their tails, they have white chests and are rusty-white underneath. Their heads are dog- like but they have pointy ears, much like that of a cat. They scavenge for food in areas where bigger game is killed and will also survive off humans feeding them. They live for 12 to 14 years in captivity, we are very fortunate to spot one of them. Maybe you would be lucky enough to spot one of these seldom seen animals while spending the night in one of our open air rooms.

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