Golden jackal on Sylt: Peace now after 100 sheep deaths?

Golden jackal on Sylt: Peace now after 100 sheep deaths?

On Sylt, a single golden jackal has been causing great excitement among sheep farmers and hunters since mid-May. He is suspected of killing around 100 sheep and lambs, reigniting the debate about the spotted predator. However, there have been no new sightings or attacks in recent days, giving the local hunting community hope that the jackal has left the island. According to Thomas Diedrichsen, the deputy head of the hegering, and Manfred Uekermann, the deputy district hunter, no further dead or injured sheep have been reported recently. But the Ministry of the Environment assumes that the golden jackal is still on Sylt because the conditions there are ideal for it. So far, 76 cracks have been officially confirmed, but sheep farmers and hunters report further incidents that have not yet been documented.

What does the golden jackal bring with it?

On the night of June 6, 2025, a golden jackal again injured lambs and killed one. This was observed by a sheep farmer with a night vision device, who immediately informed the hunters. Despite the confirmed attacks, the golden jackal has not yet been shot at, although a general order for shooting has been approved. Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt (Greens) emphasized that the decision was not easy because the golden jackal is a protected species. But he also noted that both coastal protection and animal welfare were taken into account. It is estimated that the golden jackal could have reached the island via the Sylt Dam.

The situation on Sylt

The Hegering Sylt, which covers ten territories and consists of around 120 hunters, plans to actively hunt the golden jackal. However, hunting is complicated because the jackal is active at dusk and at night and has a very keen sense of smell. Manfred Uekermann expressed the difficulty of catching the golden jackal. The hoped-for hunter support will come from around 20 to 30 active hunters, he emphasized. Stunning the animal would not be an option as the hunters would have to get closer to the golden jackal.

Last night the golden jackal even killed 46 lambs. A dike shepherd had to accept the loss of around 80 animals and was compensated with around 15,000 euros. This phenomenon of “surplus killing” describes exactly the situation triggered by the behavior of this predator, as wildlife ecologist Felix Böcker explains. Despite the challenges, Böcker emphasizes that golden jackals pose no direct threat to humans, but do pose a direct threat to grazing and farm animals. The background is the fact that the golden jackal has arrived in Germany and has been spreading increasingly since it was first detected in Brandenburg in 1997 and has had several offspring since then.

A look at the species

The golden jackal belongs to the dog family and is larger than a fox but smaller than a wolf. These shy animals are active at dusk and at night, and sightings usually only occur through wildlife cameras. Its diet is diverse: it feeds on small animals, insects, berries, fruits and carrion. Golden jackals live in small family groups that occupy a territory of two to three square kilometers. Positive news is the fact that offspring have already been recorded in Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg, while Schleswig-Holstein has recorded two sightings of the golden jackal this year. In the region, dogs must be kept on a leash every day to protect grazing animals, especially during the breeding and breeding season.

The effects of the golden jackal on local ecosystems have not yet been fully researched. Meanwhile, conservation groups and hunters are realizing that how to deal with such cases needs to be carefully considered. The discussion about the golden jackal will certainly continue to concern those responsible, while farmers will have to think about sustainable protection of their herds.

For further information and current developments on this topic, see the reports from NDR, daily news and NABU helpful.