First record of multiple breeding and communal nursing within one social unit of European golden jackal (Canis aureus, L. 1758) in a low density area in NE Italy

3rd International Jackal Symposium

02-04 November, 2022 Gödöllő, Hungary

Pecorella S.^1,*, De Luca M.², Fonda F.^1,3, Viviano A.⁴, Candelotto M. ⁵, Candotto S.², Mori E.⁴, Banea O.⁶

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¹ THERION Research Group, Gorizia, Italy

² For-Nature S.r.l., Udine, Italy

³ Department of Life Science, University of Trieste, Italy

⁴ Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche –

Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri –Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.

⁵ Independent Researcher, Pavia di Udine, Italy

⁶ Ecology Department of Crispus NGO Sibiu, Romania

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*Corresponding autor: stefano_pecorella(at)hotmail.it

Photo: SILVANO CANDOTTO

Background

• Golden jackal listed in Annex V of Habitats Directive → EU Member States shall take measures only as a result of surveillance work, to ensure Favorable Conservation Status
• Game management plans are often elaborated without specific data on local density, at official rates overpassing 90–100 % (i.e., Romania)
• Main reproductive parameters of the species not fully understood; lack of knowledge on the species adaptability to aggressive hunting

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AIM OF THIS STUDY → to investigate reproductive biology at the den site as a key element in defining lethal control policies / conservation measures

Study area

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• Legal status: Fully protected
• Low density ( 0.53–0.65 groups / 10 km2 )
• Low mortality
• Proximity to rivers / streams
• Absence of wolves and winter snow cover
• High human density
• Elevation range: 0–72 m a.s.l.

Multiple breeding was observed in one group, in the lower Isonzo River catchment

Materials and Methods

Preliminary survey:

• Local density was calculated with bi-modal technique by combining bioacoustic monitoring method (Giannatos 2004) and reproductive group occurrence with opportunistic camera-trapping

Burrows sampling:

• 24 potentially suitable burrows were investigated with camera-traps during 2021/2022 breeding seasons
• One camera trap (model = Browning Spec Ops Advantage) was active on one burrow occupied by jackals from 20/02/22 to 30/06/22 → 112 camera-trap days (18 days lost due to memory card full)

• 5 groups were found in the study area → density = 0.53–0.65 groups / 10 km²
• Jackals were recorded on 12 burrows during 2021/2022 breeding seasons
• In 2022 one burrow was occupied by a reproductive group of jackals for 49 days (09 April – 28 May) in the Natural Reserve Foce dell’Isonzo
• 1814 jackals' videos collected during den occupation (15:12 hours)
• Group composed by 3 adults: the breeding pair and one female with the role of helper
• Breeding of both females (dominant and helper); communal nursing

Results

• The dominant ♀ gave birth to 8 cubs between 4th and 9th of April (first litter) in an unknown site
• The dominant ♀ occupied the monitored burrow on 9th of April, bringing inside the 8 cubs
• A second litter of 4 cubs appeared related to the same den, as result of parturition by the helper ♀ occurred between 29th of April and 2nd of May
• The two females cooperated in rearing the first litter
• Apparently the second litter did not survive

Results – reproduction and communal nursing

04/04 – last record of the dominant female pregnant

04/09 – den occupation: the female brought inside the burrow 8 newborn cubs (first litter)

04/10 – a second female (helper) was firstly observed at the active den

04/26 – first independent exit from the den of one pup

04/29 – the helper ♀ appeared pregnant

05/02 – the helper ♀ was recorded allo-suckling for the first time

05/09 – the 8 pups were recorded altogether outside the den for the first time

Relevant observations

05/19 – the two females were recorded suckling together

05/20 – the dominant ♀ brought out of the den 3 inept newborn cubs

Shortly after, the cubs were brought back inside the den by the helper

Later in the day, the dominant ♀ moved away a total of 4 newborn cubs (second litter)

05/21 – the helper ♀ brought at least one of the newborn cubs back to the den

05/24 – last record of a cub from the second litter

05/28 – the jackals' group leaved the den

VIDEO HERE Copyright © Matteo De Luca & Stefano Pecorella 2022

Relevant observations

• Four interruptions of working of the camera-trap affected the sampling
• The corpses of newborns from the 2nd litter were not analyzed by a veterinarian in order to determine the source of their physical inhabitation

Future works

• Camera-trapping is an effective tool to investigate social and reproductive behavior of golden jackal
• Further in-depth studies are needed, combining different research methods

Limitations

• We documented the first case of multiple breeding and communal nursing within the same social unit of golden jackal. This social unit was formed by 15 individuals.
• Based on aggressive behaviors from the male toward the helper, polygyny might be excluded
• Our findings open new scenarios and questions about the reproductive biology of the species
• Applied ecology perspective → knowledge of main reproductive parameters should be a key element in defining golden jackal management plans with lethal control policies / conservation measures

Conclusions

Grazie per l'attenzione!

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Köszönöm szépen!

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Mulțumesc pentru atenție!

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Thanks for your attention!

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Email: stefano_pecorella(at)hotmail.it

Video social Unit three adults

HERE Copyright: Matteo De Luca