User guide

Observe · Document · Report

With SchakalMelder you can report signs of golden jackals and other species (raccoon, raccoon dog, wolf, fox) directly to the Austrian Golden Jackal Project – on your phone in the field or on your computer at home. Every report is checked by the project team and helps us understand how the golden jackal is spreading.

Reports from all over Europe are welcome – not just from Austria. Golden jackals are spreading across the continent, and every record helps. Just set the location on the map; the country is filled in automatically.

Switch the app to English with EN at the top right. A few screens (start screen, sign-in and registration) are currently only available in German – this guide gives the German button labels in brackets.

1 · Get the app on your phone

SchakalMelder runs in your browser at goldschakal.at/melden. There is nothing to download from an app store. To keep it on your home screen like an app – and to use it without signal:

Android (Chrome): the start screen shows a button “Install app”. Tap it and confirm.
iPhone / iPad (Safari): tap the Share icon (square with arrow) at the bottom, then “Add to Home Screen”.

2 · With or without an account

When you first open the app, you choose between signing in („Anmelden / Registrieren“) and continuing without an account („Ohne Anmeldung fortfahren“). You can report either way.

Without an account: you enter your e-mail address with each report.
With an account: your e-mail is filled in automatically, and your Jackal Academy progress is kept on all your devices.

Registering: tab “Account” → „Registrieren“ (register) → enter your name, e-mail and a password of at least 8 characters. You will then receive an e-mail with a confirmation link (if it doesn’t arrive, check your spam folder). Forgot your password? In the “Account” tab, tap „Passwort vergessen?“.

If you report on behalf of a research institution or authority, you can apply for extended access when registering. The project team approves it; until then you have regular access.

3 · Submitting a report

Everything happens in the “Report” tab. Only the type of evidence, your e-mail and the privacy consent are required – but the more you tell us, the better the team can assess your report.

Choose the species
Golden jackal, raccoon, raccoon dog, wolf, fox – or Unknown if you are not sure. An honest “unknown” is better than a guess.
Choose the type of evidence
What did you find? A sighting, a photo, howling, a track … (see Types of evidence). After tapping, a short tip shows what matters for this type.
Date and time
When did you make the observation? An approximate time is fine.
Set the location
Tap the map or press “GPS”, then drag the marker to the exact spot. Country, region and district are filled in automatically – you can correct them.
Photos, videos or sound recordings
Record directly or choose from your gallery; several files are possible, up to 10 MB each. For all types of evidence except Sighting and Howling / BAM, at least one photo or video is required.
Details about the animal
Number, sex, estimated weight and age class – only as far as you can tell. With several animals, you can enter details for each one.
Your details
Name or institution are optional; your e-mail is required so the team can ask follow-up questions and give you feedback.
Remarks
What did you notice? For example behaviour, tail length, colouring, or whether the animal was alone.
Consent and submit
Tick the privacy box and tap “Submit report”. You will see a thank-you screen with your report number and receive a confirmation by e-mail.

Optional: below the photo upload you can tick that your photo may be shown without its location to other trained users to help identify it. This box is unticked by default.

4 · Types of evidence

Sightingno photo needed

Photo / Videoe.g. camera trap

Howling / BAMsound recording ideal

Road killphoto required

Harvestphoto required

Trackphoto with scale

Livestock killphoto required

Wildlife killphoto required

Scatphoto required

BAM stands for bioacoustic monitoring – recordings of calls and howling.

5 · Reporting without signal

In the field there is often no reception. That’s no problem: if a report cannot be sent, the app saves it on your device and tells you it was saved offline.

Saved reports are listed in the “Saved” tab. They are sent as soon as you have signal again – or you tap „Jetzt senden“ (send now) there yourself. Tap × to discard a report.

Important: reports saved offline exist only on this device. Please don’t clear your browser data until everything has been sent.

6 · What happens to your report

Every report is checked by the project team and classified according to the SCALP criteria (Hatlauf & Böcker, 2021). Because golden jackals are easily confused with foxes, dogs or wolves, there is no category C2 for them – only C1 and C3 with subclasses:

C1 – ConfirmedPhoto/video showing at least two features and confirmed by experts, a good sound recording, positive genetics or an identified dead animal.

C3a – ProbablePlausible and very likely, but no proof possible.

C3b – PossibleFor example a sighting without a picture, a track without genetics, poor image quality.

C3c – UnlikelyThere is evidence, but it rather points to a fox, dog or wolf.

FalseGolden jackal ruled out.

kBmNot enough information for a classification.

A C3 rating does not mean your observation was wrong – only that it cannot be proven. Such reports are valuable for monitoring too.

Records are currently not shown publicly. If the map is opened later, only confirmed records (C1) will appear, and only as a 10×10 km grid cell – never as an exact point.

7 · Tips for good evidence

Photos with scale: for tracks and scat, place something familiar next to them – folding rule, ruler, pen, lighter.
Capture features: a confirmed identification needs at least two typical features in a photo or video – for example the short tail or the light backs of the ears.
Tracks: are hard to tell apart from fox or dog tracks and therefore stay at C3 at most – photos with a scale still help.
Howling: C1 requires a good sound recording – hold your phone still, avoid wind and talking.
Road kill and harvest: take photos and, if possible, secure a genetic sample.
Kills: a confirmed record is usually only possible through genetics at the bite site. For livestock, please also inform the veterinary authority.
Scat: can only be identified reliably by DNA. Store samples cool and dry.

How to take samples correctly and where to send them is best discussed directly with the team: office@goldschakal.at.

8 · Jackal Academy

In the “Academy” tab you train your eye: you match photos, tracks and other evidence to the right species. There are four levels – Beginner, Advanced, Professional and Expert – each harder than the last. With 80 % correct answers you pass a level and unlock the next one.

Special achievements earn you badges as field-notebook stamps: Flawless, Night vision, Master tracker, Honest eye and Academy graduate. When you are signed in, your progress is kept on all your devices.

Coming soon: once you master all levels, you can help identify submitted photos.

9 · Privacy

Your e-mail is only used to process your report. Name and organisation are optional.
Exact coordinates are only accessible internally to authorised persons (science, authorities).
The app uses no tracking or advertising cookies.

All details: Privacy policy.

10 · Frequently asked questions

I’m not sure it was a golden jackal. Should I report it anyway?

Yes, please! Choose “Unknown” as the species and describe what you saw. The team checks every report.

When submitting, I’m told to confirm the privacy consent or that the e-mail is required.

Then the privacy box is not ticked or the e-mail address is missing. The app jumps to the relevant field automatically.

The app asks for a photo, but I don’t have one.

A photo is required for all types of evidence except Sighting and Howling / BAM. Without a photo, choose Sighting and describe the evidence in the remarks.

After many reports in a row, I can’t submit another one.

To prevent misuse, a maximum of 10 reports per hour is possible per internet connection. Please wait a little and try again.

My file is not accepted.

Each file may be at most 10 MB. Choose a smaller photo or shorten the video.

I didn’t receive a confirmation e-mail.

Please check your spam folder. If nothing arrives, write to office@goldschakal.at.

Can I view or change my reports later?

Reports are currently not shown in the app. If you would like to add or correct something, write to office@goldschakal.at with your report number.

Thank you for taking part!
Austrian Golden Jackal Project · office@goldschakal.at
Open the app · goldschakal.at · Imprint & privacy