Golden jackal spotted in Chornobyl Reserve as species spreads across Ukraine
According to the reserve, a jackal was found dead on June 2 along the road between Chornobyl and Prypiat after being struck by a vehicle. The discovery provided definitive proof that the species is present in the reserve. Until now, jackals had only been detected through camera traps, tracks, and occasional visual sightings.
Reserve specialists said earlier camera-trap images were too unclear to identify the animal with certainty, and the species could only be recognized by its silhouette. For now, the golden jackal remains a rare species in the Chornobyl Reserve.
An adult jackal weighs about 15 kilograms. It has gray or reddish-golden fur, a relatively short tail with a black tip, and partially fused pads on the middle toes of its front paws — a feature that helps researchers identify its tracks.
Jackals are highly adaptable and omnivorous. In the reserve, they are expected to feed on leftovers from wolf kills, small rodents, birds, roe deer, and young deer.
Jackals form long-term family pairs and raise their offspring together. They are not considered dangerous to humans. Healthy jackals are naturally afraid of people and tend to flee when encountered. Only animals infected with rabies may pose a threat, the reserve noted.
Golden jackals are expanding their range throughout the country. The species is now found across Ukraine, and its population continues to grow. The largest populations are concentrated in the Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions.
The jackal's spread mirrors a broader trend across Europe. Predator populations such as wildcats, foxes, wolves, bears, and lynx are on the rise, and jackals are especially adept at living alongside humans.
For the Chornobyl Reserve, however, the species remains uncommon. Its numbers are still too low to have a significant ecological impact.
Over time, researchers say, a growing jackal population could slightly reduce the numbers of red foxes and raccoon dogs in the reserve.
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19 of June 2026
