Jackal (чөө).
Appeared in Kyrgyzstan in the 1960s. Externally, the jackal resembles a small wolf. Height at the withers is 45–50 cm, weight ranges from 7 to 13 kg. The winter coat is pale, dirty yellow, with noticeable reddish and black shades; the tail is reddish-brown with a black tip.
The jackal prefers dense thickets of shrubs and reeds in plains, near rivers and lakes, and often lives close to human settlements. It is less commonly found in the foothills and is believed not to ascend into the mountains. However, there are known cases of jackals being present in the Naryn region at an altitude of 3000 meters. As shelters, they usually use various natural niches and depressions, crevices among rocks, and sometimes burrows of badgers, porcupines, and foxes, occasionally digging their own. Well-defined trails usually lead to their shelters.
The jackal feeds on a wide variety of food, primarily small animals and birds, as well as lizards, snakes, frogs, fish, locusts, beetles, and other insects. Carrion, remains of prey from large predators, and various scraps play an important role in its diet. The jackal also eats many fruits and berries, including grapes, watermelons, melons, and plant bulbs.
Pairs of jackals form for life, and the male actively participates in digging the burrow and raising the litter. Estrus in jackals occurs from late January to February, sometimes into March. The mating season resembles that described for wolves — jackals howl loudly. Gestation lasts 60–63 days. Puppies are born from late March to late May. There are usually 4–6 puppies, occasionally up to 8. The female usually gives birth in a burrow, which is a simple tunnel up to two meters long and up to one meter deep. Jackal burrows are much simpler than fox burrows. A large mound of earth is usually piled up in front of the entrance. In these burrows, the jackal hides during the day and, in moments of danger, at other times as well. Occasionally, several burrows belonging to different individuals are located in close proximity. Burrows are arranged in the most impenetrable places.
The female feeds the puppies with milk for 2–3 months, but already at 2–3 weeks of age, she begins to supplement their diet by regurgitating swallowed prey. In autumn, the young become independent and hunt alone or in groups of 2–4 animals. Females reach sexual maturity in about a year, while males take about two years. The lifespan is up to 12–14 years.
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