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gatherings are of a temporary nature. Foraging may be a solitary
or group activity, with several animals cooperating in the hunting
of larger prey. A pair mates for life and defends a territory, the
size of which varies according to habitat and food availability. The pair
tolerates the presence of the subadults from the previous litter as they
help to feed and protect the current litter. Reproductive activity in
Israel takes place in October–March. Timing is not known elsewhere
in the region, but is probably similar, given that pups are born in
February–March in Turkmenistan adjacent to north-eastern Iran.
Usually there are 3–6 pups (ranges from 1–8) in a litter, dropped after
a 63-day gestation. Jackals may be both nocturnal and diurnal: this is
often determined by season and level of human disturbance.
Distribution and Status Golden Jackals occur throughout the region
and in every country, only being absent from far northern Turkey and
north-west Iran. In Iran they are said to be more common in the north
than in the south. There have been local extinctions and this species
may no longer occur in the UAE and parts of Oman. It is probably
absent from much of the true desert.
Conservation Areas Present in many protected areas throughout its
range.
GREY WOLF Canis lupus
Identification A large, unmistakable predator, the Grey Wolf occurs
from the Egyptian Sinai eastwards within the region. Two subspecies
are recognized in the region: the smaller C. l. pallipes (C. l. arabs
is sometimes recognized for the Arabian Peninsula) occurs in the
south. The larger, longer-haired C. l. lupus is found in the higher
country of northern Turkey and Syria, and perhaps Iran. All, however,