Occurrence and Some Ecological Aspects of the Golden Jackal (<i>Canis aureus</i>Linnaeus, 1758) in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

• 作者: Abdel Fattah N. Abd Rabou Kamal E. Elkahlout Fayez A. Almabhouh Walid F. Mohamed Norman A. Khalaf Mona A. Al-Sadek Randa N. Alfarra Lamis T. Al-Moqayed Ashraf A. Shafei Nedal A. Fayyad Belal S. Adeem Ayman W. Dardona Abdallah S. Awad Mohammed R. Al-Agha Mohammed A. Abd Rabou
• 来源期刊: 生态学期刊(英文)
• 学科: 工学
• 关键词: CARNIVORES Golden Jackals Trapping Foothold Traps Wildlife Hunters ZOOS Gaza Strip
• 年，卷（期）: 2021,（2）
• 页码范围: 105-125
• 页数: 21页
• 分类号: TG3

摘要

The Golden Jackal (<em>Canis aureus</em> Linnaeus, 1758), which belongs to the Canidae family, is an opportunist carnivore in the Gaza Strip (365 square kilometers). The current study aims at giving notes on the occurrence and some ecological aspects of the species in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. The study, which lasted 14 years (2007-2020), is descriptive and cumulative in its style. It was based on frequent field visits, direct observations and meetings and discussions with wildlife hunters, farmers and other stakeholders. The findings of the study show that Gazans are familiar with the Golden Jackal to the extent that a Gazan family holds the Arabic name of the animal, which is “<em>Wawi</em>”. The Golden Jackal was sometimes encountered and hunted in the eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, which are characterized by the presence of wilderness areas, intensive agriculture, poultry pens and solid waste landfills. Like other a few mammalian faunas, the adult Golden Jackals enter the Gaza Strip through gaps in or burrows beneath the metal borders separating the Gaza Strip from the rest of the Palestinian Territories and Egypt. Gaza zoos were found to harbor tens of Golden Jackals trapped or hunted by clever wildlife hunters using different means such as wire cages known locally as “<em>maltash</em>” and foothold traps with metal jaws that may cause lesions to the trapped animals. Poisoning and shooting were also common methods used to control the jackals and other carnivores causing harm to agriculture and livestock. The animal was known among the Gazans as an omnivore, feeding on wild and domestic animals in addition to plant materials, garbage and carrions. In conclusion, the study recommends the need to raise ecological awareness to preserve the Golden jackal and to adopt safe control measures for jackals and other carnivores, including the construction of protective fences for agricultural fields and animal pens.