Jackals have thick coats of brown, grey, white, and black fur with black eyes, noses, and whiskers, with light underbellies, and dark inner ear fur. Black-Backed Jackals are unique because of their black furred back with white stripes. Their ears are oversized and have a tall, triangular shape that gives them improved hearing in the wild.                                           

   Jackals are often found in loose packs but can also be found living alone or in pairs. They are among one of the few mammal species where the male and female mate for life, and both protect and defend their territory equally. Mating season occurs between May and August, and litters average two to four pups. Jackal pups live with their parents up to 6 months. 

  Jackals are one of the oldest dog species. Fossils have shown they have remained virtually unchanged since the Pleistocene epoch, 2.5 million years ago. They roamed the Earth with woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats.  They are group hunters, always working cooperatively to get their next meal.