Tel Aviv fights growing presence of urban jackals, seeks to keep them in the wild

The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality in central Israel announced on Sunday a campaign to combat the growing presence of jackals roaming urban areas, where they pose a potential threat to humans and pets while searching for food. Authorities urged residents not to feed the wild animals, warning that such behavior encourages them to venture deeper into populated neighborhoods.

“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,” the Tel Aviv Municipality wrote on its official website. 

The city also warned that the growing number of jackals in urban areas could potentially spread serious diseases among both humans and pets. 

“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,” the municipality stated. 

Approximately 16 wild jackals have been tagged with transmitters as part of the city’s effort to reduce their population in Tel Aviv. The ongoing initiative is being carried out in cooperation with the University of Haifa in northern Israel. As part of the campaign, the municipality has also set up feeding stations for street cats, which are being used strategically to lure jackals out of the urban area.

The issue of wild animals encroaching on urban areas is a global challenge. However, it is especially prevalent in densely populated countries like Israel, where limited available land, rapid economic development, and population growth have led to shrinking natural habitats for wildlife.

Jackals are mainly active at night when humans often hear them howling. However, due to the growing scarcity of food in the wild, urban jackals are also increasingly active in the daytime where they can be seen looking for food remains in the vicinity of human residential areas. 

Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park is a gathering spot for urban jackals, likely attracted by the park’s expansive lawns, which resemble the animals’ natural habitats.

The municipality has issued warnings to residents who violate the law by feeding wild animals. Repeat offenders may face a fine of NIS 730, approximately $200.

The northern Israeli city of Haifa has been grappling for years with wild boars entering urban areas and potentially threatening residents. Like the jackals in Tel Aviv, the boars in Haifa are drawn by food waste, as urban expansion has significantly reduced their natural habitats.