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Monday, May 27, 2013

Estonian Ministry of Environment considers jackals an alien species in Lääne County

Šaakaleid hakatakse Eesti loodusest eemaldama sel sügisel (Estonian jackals will be removed this fall) in Ilma- ja loodusuudised

Estonia preparing to purge itself from jackals, this fall

Seni on šaakalite kohta kindlaid andmeid Läänemaalt.
Seni on šaakalite kohta kindlaid andmeid Läänemaalt.
Foto: Daniel Garcia/AFP

The Environmental Board (subdivision of Ministry of Environment in Estonia) is busy specifying numbers of jackals in Estonia, as well as their whereabouts, behaviour patterns and options for population growth. The plan is to launch removal of the alien species this fall, already.

Fragments:
(to see entire news click here)

Three jackals have definitely been detected in Estonia, living somewhere around Matsalu. One has been heard, in Hiiumaa – just the voice.
Notices from Saaremaa and Viljandi County, not as yet confirmed by inspections were also reported.


Based on "improbable that jackals could have reached Estonia, from their natural habitat, independently, without any known subpopulations in between", Ministry of the Environment considers the Lääne County jackals an alien species, undesirable for Estonia’s nature.


«It must be admitted that we have to do with a crafty animal, highly inclined to hide, not easy to catch.»
«The need for swift removal of alien species is explained by that as the population acclimatises, it can increase fast.»


«Sustained monitoring will prove if all [jackals] will have been managed to be caught, during the upcoming hunting season.»


«Right now, preliminary inspections are being carried out for specifying numbers of jackals in Estonia, as well as their whereabouts, behaviour patterns and options for population growth. We hope to get these ready by September, as well as the instructions needed.»


The removal of jackals from the nature of Estonia is planned for this fall.

Comments
It will be necessary to have a better overview of jackal "intrusism".

10 month-old jackal female collected in Salevere (W. Estonia) at the end of February 2013

At this time it´s supposed that jackal meets criteria of "allochtonous species" or "nonnative", but no criteria of invasive species was demonstrated e.g. exponential growing, or that their presence and/or spread threaten biological diversity!

In Belarus jackal was hunted in January 2012 (see here). This was the most northern point where jackal was reported in Europe before W. Estonia.



Estonian Television tried to present the phenomenon of jackal arrival in West Estonia (here)  and also part of Baltica 2013, jackal survey organized 27-29 of March 2013. During this winter survey, jackal have been photo-trapped and also identified by footprints and bioacoustic monitoring by a team of Matsalu National Park Reserve and one member of GOJAGE.