Gold jackal on Sylt: Jäger start controversial shooting permit!

Gold jackal on Sylt: Jäger start controversial shooting permit!

On the popular holiday island of Sylt, a controversial hunt for the gold jackal makes headlines. From June 5, 2025, hunters with a special protection permit, hunters may succumb to the gold jackal, a project that has not yet been documented in Germany. This approval, granted by the State Office for the Environment in Schleswig-Holstein, is valid until July 31 and, in response to the massive attacks of the gold jackal, comes to farm animals. Since May 19, the Tier has torn 90 sheep and lambs, which underlines the urgency of this measure, such as stern.de reported.

The decision to allow hunting has aroused a lively interest among hunters from all over Germany. Although precise figures are not known for the number of interested parties, several hunters have registered and want to participate. Manfred Uekermann, the deputy district hunter of North Friesland, expresses concerns and makes it clear that no hunting tourism is desired on the island. So far, around 20 to 30 volunteer hunters from the island are actively involved in the search for the gold jackal, especially in the nightly hours.

background of the hunting

gold jackals are particularly protected in the European Union and are not regularly hunting. These animals, originally from South Asia and the southeastern Balkans, are newcomers in Germany and other European countries and spread north and west due to the warmer climate. They are slightly larger than foxes, but have a shorter tail and are known for eating smaller mammals. A confusion with foxes is therefore possible, which also makes hunting complicated.

Although approval for hunting the gold jackal could be the first of its kind in Germany, Uekermann warns that it needs to be trouble -free for a successful hunting. The hunting should only take place with the written approval of the responsible tenant to ensure that the calm areas can be observed for the nocturnal hunt.

reactions and outlook

Approval for shooting the gold jackal on Sylt has caused mixed reactions in public. While some consider the measure necessary to protect the sheep stocks, there are also critical voices that raise the question of whether the settlement of the gold jackal in Germany is not a signal of nature. The outcome of this initiative is eagerly awaited. The first shooting could set the course for dealing with this kind in Germany. Sustainable solutions are required to solve the conflict between nature and animal welfare and agricultural matters, such as t-online not.