Every observation counts. There are many ways to support the Golden Jackal Project.
Every clue counts
Report a sighting
Seen or heard a golden jackal, found tracks or scat, or spotted one on a camera trap? Report it – even uncertain observations help research. Reports from all over Europe are welcome, not just from Austria.
Sighting (even without a photo)
Photo or video, e.g. camera trap
Howling / sound recording
Tracks, footprints or scat
Livestock or wildlife kills
Dead or legally shot animal
Found or shot a golden jackal? Please contact us directly – here’s how.
Online
SchakalMelder app
Quick and easy, directly in your browser or as an app: with location, photo/video and automatic assignment – in just a few minutes.
No app store needed: SchakalMelder sits on your home screen with its own icon and also works in the field without signal. Switch the app to English with “EN” at the top right.
Good to know: every report is checked and registered by the project team. We can only reply personally to reports with evidence (photo, video, sound recording or similar).
Data protection: the exact location is stored internally only. Records are currently not shown publicly – and if they are in future, only as a 10 × 10 km grid cell. Find out more in our privacy policy.
Citizen science
Citizen scientists & volunteers
Golden jackal research thrives on public involvement. You don’t need to be an expert – even a single well-documented sighting is valuable. You can also help in these ways:
Help in the field
At the moment we are mainly looking for help with checking camera traps, for example from hunters. Interested – or have another idea? Get in touch and we will come back to you when a suitable opportunity arises.
Hunters make an indispensable contribution to monitoring – through camera traps, patrols of their hunting grounds and, above all, by reporting dead animals found and legally shot animals.
A dead golden jackal provides valuable data on the health, diet and origin of the species. Please act quickly – the fresher the carcass, the more meaningful the results. There is no cost to you.
Dead golden jackal? Please contact us directly
Dr. Jennifer Hatlauf BOKU University, Vienna · Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management (IWJ)
In Austria, please also inform your provincial hunting association (Landesjagdverband). We will then arrange storage, collection and examination directly with you.
Information sheet: what to do with a dead golden jackalPDF (in German) · reporting, storage, hygiene, examinationDownload information sheet
Details we need in your report
Location (GPS coordinates or a precise description of the location)
Date and time of the find or the shooting
Condition of the carcass (fresh / decomposed / frozen)
Photos: for a dead animal found, the site (surroundings + animal), ideally with a scale; for a shot animal, photos from the side and from the front, plus its weight
Your mobile number to coordinate collection
Whether you would like to be informed of the examination results
Storing the carcass
Up to approx. 5 days: store cool (0–4 °C) in a separate, well-sealed container, away from food.
More than 5 days: freeze at −18 °C in a sealed plastic bag.
No freezer? Keep it cool in the meantime and arrange collection quickly.
Hygiene measures
Wear protective gloves and a face mask. Golden jackals can transmit parasites, including the fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis).
Wash your hands thoroughly after contact.
If there are signs of disease (conspicuous lesions, an unusual smell of decay), call in the veterinary service.
Taxidermy possible
As only the carcass (the skinned body) is needed, the pelt can be removed. Alternatively, the animal can be taken straight to a taxidermist – all further steps will then be coordinated. Please include the taxidermist’s contact details in your report and follow the hygiene measures when skinning.
What happens after you report?
You print out a delivery note, then the transport company MedLog collects the carcass and takes it to Vienna. All transport and examination costs are covered.
An initial pathological examination is carried out at the Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology (FIWI, Vetmeduni Vienna), and BOKU analyses the stomach contents to determine the diet.
You will receive feedback on the results once the examinations are complete – usually after a few weeks, as several samples are analysed together. Questions are welcome at any time.
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Information sheet: what to do with a dead golden jackal
PDF (in German) · reporting, storage, hygiene, examination
Download information sheet
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