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The northern limit of the range of the common jackal crosses Caucasia-Moldovia and Hungary-Austria. It is the only representative of jackals that lives outside Africa. It is a highly adaptable species that feeds on what is to be had and can live in very different conditions.

 

The common jackal reminds somewhat of a wolf but it is smaller, lighter in weight and its legs are  shorter, body more elongated and tail shorter in proportion. Its trunk length is under a metre, the tail thirty centimetres, height at shoulders under half a metre and weight around ten kilometres. The coat is sand-coloured, with black highlights. The tail is rust-coloured with a black tip but shorter and fluffier than that of wolves. Unlike other jackals the common jackal can bare its teeth.

 

 

The unknown animal found in Läänemaa in March could not initially be identified by the experts but currently it can confidently be stated from the  investigation results that it was a jackal; where there is one, others may follow.