Tel Aviv-Jaffa declares war on urban jackals

The Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality on Sunday declared war on urban jackals, warning residents that they could be fined, or worse, for feeding the wild animals, and laying out a strategy to keep them in the wild.

Wild jackals eschew human contact. They are more likely to be heard howling at night than seen. But urban jackals have gotten used to daylight and to scavenging for food remains.

In Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park, they are easily spotted lounging on the lawns.

A notice on the municipal website explained that jackal numbers had skyrocketed in the city. It said, “Providing food to jackals causes them to lose their natural fear of humans, which can lead to aggressive behavior when food is scarce. Jackals that become accustomed to human-provided food may display aggression if they do not receive it.

“Additionally, feeding jackals increases the risk of disease transmission. Jackals are drawn to neighborhoods where food sources are readily available, leading to greater interaction with residents and a higher potential for disease spread.”

Residents caught feeding jackals will receive an official warning and explanation of the risks, followed on a second offense by a NIS 730 fine ($198), and on a third — by legal action.

As part of the plan to reduce the jackal population, 16 animals have been tagged with transmitters in collaboration with Haifa University to map their movements.

Feeding stations for street cats have been raised in height as part of an anti-jackal pilot project.

Entry points into the city are being mapped together with the Yarkon River Authority.

And municipal staff are trying to remove accessible food sources by strengthening cleaning efforts in parks and open spaces, installing fences in known entry points, and conducting public awareness campaigns for residents and businesses on proper waste disposal.