Milano Conference by Eliante and GOJAGE

Un cane dorato si aggira per l’Europa 

Larynx of the Golden Jackal, Estonia 28.03.2013

Photo: Tea Oacheș

by Eliante (news)

ONLINE EVENT IN FACEBOOK HERE

Un’iniziativa di studio e divulgazione a Milano sull’espansione dello Sciacallo dorato.

27 maggio 2023, ore 17:00
Via San Vittore 49, Milano
Ingresso libero

Un nuovo carnivoro si affaccia in Italia e in Europa, grazie ad un processo di espansione del tutto naturale: si tratta dello Sciacallo dorato (Canis aureus), che grazie alle sue notevoli capacità di adattamento sta colonizzando nuove aree ad una velocità davvero sorprendente.

Probabilmente, nei prossimi anni sentiremo parlare sempre più spesso di questa specie, per questo, Eliante ha organizzato un’iniziativa di studio e divulgazione rivolta sia a specialisti che al grande pubblico, che prevede la realizzazione di un opuscolo informativo e di un convegno. In quest’ultimo, biologi, zoologi e antropologi offriranno una prospettiva sulle caratteristiche di questa specie, sulla sua espansione in Italia e in Europa, e sugli aspetti sociali e culturali ad essa legati.

Presentation Maria Benciolini, Eliante Italia 

HERE

Presentation Luca Lapini, GOJAGE Italia

HERE

Presentation Ovidiu C. Banea, GOJAGE Romania

HERE

Mauro Belardi moderated last Saturday a conference on Golden Jackal distribution in Italy and Europe where anthropologist Maria Benciolini (Eliante), zoologist Luca Lapini (NHM Udine), and environmental ecologist Ovidiu Banea (Crispus NGO Sibiu) discussed on public attitude and perception of people towards golden jackal, the distribution of #Canisaureus in Europe and Italy, and evolution of population dynamic of the golden jackal in our regions.

In the end, two models of conservation were discussed from the perspective of total culling with harvest quotas overpassing 85% in Romania, which drives more and more densities and stock assessment (This year in Romania are planned to be killed 24.000 specimens from 28.000 which are alive) and from the perspective of total conservation as in Italy, where the species is fully protected by Law 92 (This year in Italy the Golden Jackal reached a total number of less than 300-350 individuals).

First Golden Jackal was shot in Italy in 1984, and one-year later reproduction was proven, while in Romania, the first reproduction of the last dispersion was proved at Negureni, in South Dobrudja in the same year (1984).

Why the evolution of the Golden Jackal population is so different in these two countries remains unknown, but one thing came to light, now: The aggressive attitude and hunting are discussable for their effectiveness while the conservation of territorial groups with dominant pairs seems to show constant densities at the local level.

#GOJAGE

Golden jackal vagrant was sighted in Tuscany, Italy

The golden jackal on the way to Rome

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Rome, 7 December 2021 – Unstoppable, the journey of the golden jackal in Italy.

"The Canis aureus left on a distant day dal Gange, after 40 years in our country he arrived in Tuscany. The one of Montemurlo (Prato) it’s just the latest report. The ‘street sweeper’ who eats everything is ‘undermining’ his most direct opponent, the wolf."

Text Source: here, Italy24News

Video Source: here La Repubblica

"How many are and where

But how many are the specimens of this protected species? The Quaderni of the Civic Museum of Natural history of Ferrara have just published a study photographing the presence of the golden jackal with us. At the end of September, write Luca Lapini, Stefano Pecorella, Mauro Ferri and Marta Villa, “the species is currently widespread throughout northern Italy, at least as far south as the Province of Ravenna. It is estimated that they are now present in this vast area of ​​the Italian Peninsula 196-250 specimens divided into at least 37-47 territorial reproductive groups “. Then the sighting of Monemurlo was added. So today the canis aureus is lord in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany.

The cities But our jackal does not disdain cities. From Udine to Venice, from Osoppo to Pordenone, from Trieste to Gorizia, from Modena to Parma a Reggio Emilia, “looking for poultry and household waste often collected around public landfills or ecological pitches, which he constantly frequents also to catch rats “(again from the Notebooks). Jackals and wolves

In common they have a passion for chicken coops. End. “We have the feeling that the presence of wolves can only slow expansion of the golden jackal. But evidently, they manage to coexist, at least at low densities – this is the analysis of Lapini, zoologist -. We are witnessing an unprecedented scenario. The beginning of the expansion of the Canis aureus was guaranteed by the killing of the Balkan wolves, reduced to the light in the mid-1950s. Now the expansion is very pronounced, mainly due to the fact that this is a scavenger animal, which finds the main source of resources in man “. And how is he distinguished from the wolf, with whom he continues to be habitually confused?” The most characteristic trait – warns the zoologist – is the white-collar at the base of the neck “.

Protected species

The law 157 of 1992, as the Tolmezzo Forestry, also protects this species. Anyone who kills or captures a specimen risks arrest for two to eight months or a fine from 774 a 2.065 euro. What do they eat

The reputation of scavengers is well deserved. Confirmed by autopsies. Again from the Notebooks of the Ferrara museum: “Whole pieces have been found in various gastric tracts bags of polyethylene used for the delivery of household waste to ecological pitches – swallowed with the entire content, edible or not (leather, cigarette butts, electric wires, etc.) – pieces of plastic, rubber “. The response for the man is without appeal. “We are wasteful”, Lapini’s synthesis."

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GOJAGE gojage(at)goldenjackal.eu

Up to date situation of the golden jackal distribution in Italy, 2019

Nuove Presenze, problemi vecchi: il caso dello sciacallo dorato (Canis aureus) in Italia (here)

di Luca LAPINI

luca.lapini@comune.udine.it
Museo Friulano di Storia Naturale
Via Sabbadini 32, I-33100 UDINE

L’espansione dello sciacallo dorato in Italia sembra comunque aver attraversato tre fasi differenti.

–Prima fase (1984-1996): caratterizzata da discreto dinamismo, ha portato ad una prima segnalazione nel Veneto Prealpino, ad alcuni eventi di riproduzione nelle Province di Udine e Belluno e alla colonizzazione del Carso Isontino (Lapini et al., 2018).

–Seconda fase (1997-2008): caratterizzata da una evidente stasi dell’espansione e da una forte riduzione delle presenze complessive, ha comunque portato ad una prima riproduzione nel Muggesano (Istria settentrionale, Provincia di Trieste) e nelle valli del Natisone (Prealpi Giulie, Provincia di Udine), con presenze sempre più diffuse sul Carso Isontino (Provincia di Gorizia) (Lapini et al., 2018).

–Terza fase (2009-2018): periodo di fortissima espansione, distinto da un ulteriore successo riproduttivo nel Veneto alpino (Provincia di Belluno), da vari episodi riproduttivi in Carnia (Prealpi Carniche, Provincia di Udine) e in Alto Adige (Provincia di Bolzano), nelle Valli del Natisone (Prealpi Giulie, Provincia di Udine), sul Carso Isontino (Provincia di Gorizia) e nelle aree steppico magredili dell’alta pianura pordenonese (Provincia di Pordenone) (Lapini et al., 2018).

Il primo gruppo riproduttivo di queste zone, localizzato nell’inverno 2015, è stato raggiunto dai lupi ai primi di ottobre 2016 ed è stato da questi decimato nel quadro di un fenomeno di intra-guild competition culminato con l’uccisione di una femmina dell’anno.

Nel 2017 si sono verificati diversi episodi riproduttivi anche sul Carso sloveno a ridosso del confine con la Provincia di Trieste, con la formazione di alcuni gruppi transfrontalieri. Questi ultimi, pur esercitando gran parte dell’attività nella finitima Repubblica di Slovenia, frequentano anche parte della Provincia di Trieste (zona di Medeazza, Malchina, Monte Lanaro-Fernetti, Alta Val Rosandra). Il grande dinamismo del 2017, forse stimolato proprio dall’incontro coi lupi, ha portato ad una grande dispersione di animali, con presenze isolate in Lombardia (Val Brembana, Provincia di Bergamo) e in Emilia Romagna (Provincia di Modena), a Sud del Po. In val Brembana (Provincia di Bergamo) un esemplare isolato è stato fototrappolato diverse volte tra la località di quota di Carisole (giugno 2017), la periferia del sottostante paese di Valleve e la località di Isola di Fondra (foto S. Locatelli 2017-2019).

Golden jackal in Bergamo province, administrative region of Lombardy, Italy

by Luca Lapini

On 2th, 4th and 5th of June 2017, Stefano Locatelli in cooperation with environmental police of the Province of Bergamo has photo-trapped a golden jackal in the High Val Brembana, Bergamo Province, Lombardy, North western Italy: Orobie Natural Park (Parco delle Orobie Bergamasche)
This is the westernmost record for the species in Italy, and the first datum for the region Lombardy. This datum, together with a single datum for Modena province south to the Po River, indicates that the expansion of the species is finally increasing also in Italy.

Actualization: 26th of June 2017
During the night 23rd to 24th of June 2017 a Bio Acoustic Monitoring (BAM) survey was organized in val Brembana by Luca Lapini toghether with Carlo Comazzi, Stefano Locatelli and Luigi Nervi (agent of Bergamo province environmental police).
The BAM NR and the results of the previous BAM survey near village of Mirandola, Modena province will be presented in GOJAGE e-Bulletin within a report of actual species movements in northern part of Italy, Po river basin.

Photo-trapped: Stefano Locatelli, 2nd of June 2017

GOJAGE 2 BROADER ACTIVITIES

INFORMATION DISCLOSURE GOJAGE 2
 (11th of Oct - 25th of Nov 2012)
INVITATION

proposal and broader activities of jackal population monitoring in Central and SE Europe

Next week will start in Romania 2nd Broader Activities of GOJAGE. Collegues from other seven countries were invited to participate to bio-acoustic monitoring session, autumn stage during October and November 2012. 

Data will show jackal species densities in relation with most important ecological factors in several critical points located on the main source population type countries and movements routes. These data will be compared with spring information obtained during another campaign of GOJAGE members, an innovative study proposed by Czech Republic team, Jaroslav Cervinka and Martin Salek in 351 calling stations located in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia. 

During Autumn Stage GOJAGE 2, researchers from Hungary, Greece, Italy and Slovenia will complete the teams already formed in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia. Each team will work independently on the areas within respective country in the same conditions with the same non-invasive, nature friendly technique of bio-acoustic monitoring of jackal species.

In Romania, SISTEM 2012 autumn stage will start in Olt county with Game Management Unit education and human-jackals conflict analysis in a natural area with recent jackal re-settlement and confused demages on livestock. A television investigation will be conducted in this area by DIGI24TV channel,  after different press articles biased against jackals attack appeared with unfounded informations. Ecology Department of NGO Crispus Sibiu organizes the survey period in Romania and for this stage they will try to estimate jackal density levels in points of Calarasi, Olt, Danube Delta and in a control area of Dobruja.

In Croatia, jackal survey will be organized by BIOM NGO Zagreb and the actions continue this autumn stage in central-eastern parts of the country, following Sava river, but also on Peljesac Peninsula during 8-11 Nov 2012 period.

In Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia research teams work on natural areas along the Italian-Slovenian borders (Karst and Southern Julian Pre-Alps) in areas of Transdanubia  in Bács-Kiskun, Baranya, Somogy counties, in natural areas near riverbanks of Toundja river (Evros tributary) near Elkhovo locality, in Evros (Maritsa) Delta and in calling stations from Danube meandrous near Belgrade and other areas elected by the regional teams.

(see details here and specific countries details here)

Ovidiu Banea and Luca Lapini

Alture di Polazzo, NE Italy

Jackals in countryside habitat. Gorizia province, Italy

Videos recorded recently in Gorizia show a pair of jackals on 2nd of February 2012 then another specimen on 18th of February 2012. Another individual was registered on 12th of August 2012. The films author,  Bio agriturismo e parco rurale Alture di Polazzo wonders how this group has been established in the area. Countryside and agroturism activity may explain the crowd. Even so, road mortality continue to be a expansion and growth limiting factor of Canis aureus species in these regions. (see L. Lapini et al 2011). To understand better the overview of this situation look on Italian jackals, Gorizia province post uploaded on 10th of Sept 2012.

Interpretation 

1) At the beginning of 2012 (2nd of February), one pair of jackals was recorded in the region (1st video); On the 10th of February 2011 a female of 9.7 kg was road killed (see L. Lapini et al 2011); On the 18th of February 2012 one robust specimen was recorded at the same place having the note as female! (2nd video). 

If we track better the record (2nd video), we can see how the protagonist raises his right leg when he marks his territory. We are looking to a male, maybe the same specimen recorded in the area on 29th of March 2012 by our collegue S. Pecorella

2)The supposed young photo-trapped (3rd video) in loc. Alture di Polazzo (Doberdo' del Lago, Gorizia) it was not a young. In that season a young have 4-5 kg. The photo-trapped specimen, on the contrary, is surely a full developed individual, at the end of the summer moult (and for this reason particularly slender). Probably a female, perhaps the same specimen photo-trapped later and before. The last young from this zone, a female of about 11 months, was road killed on 10 February 2011 (see Lapini et al., 2011).

3)CONCLUSIONS

To conclude this hypothesis we have to admit the limits of phototrapping method:

- We cannot do biometry, body measurement and during IR-night condition sex differentiation being also very difficult;

- In the last two year, anyway, in the same zone one adult male was found dead and a young female was road killed by cars. We don't know if they were effective of the above quoted reproductive group. A genetic mapping of jackal specimens, conducted by Friulian Museum of Natural History in Udine, started in the area, and we hope that DNA analysis could gather further information about their true parental links. 

- The best current estimate for this zone, at present, is 2-5 specimens. 

(Luca Lapini, Ovidiu Banea & Stefano Pecorella)

Italian jackals, Gorizia Province

Recent identification of a possible reproductive group of golden jackal in Italy

Stefano Pecorella

A recent picture (7.09.2012) of a pair of jackals obtained on Karst (Carso), in the Province of Gorizia. (Photo: Stefano Pecorella). First specimen (part of it) on this special trail is located just above the black line (the bottom picture), the second has bright eyes. Another individual was recorded in may (9.05.2012).
To see more photos and description of habitat follow the link below:
http://cameratrapping.altervista.org/karst/ 

Luca Lapini

As you know, from the same zone there are a lot of excellent pictures both of jackal and wildcat, together with a lot of samples of both species (road kills, illegally harvested specimens, jackal howling records, etc.).

In this place the presence of the golden jackal was ascertained at least from 1994 to the present (please, see Lapini, 1996 and Lapini et al., 2011). This is surely the oldest Italian reproductive situation, at present constituted by at least two specimens simultaneously present in the wild. A quite realistic jackal-howling estimate suggests that in this zone could be present 2-5 specimens.