A surprising discovery has taken place in Álava. The Public Entity Euskal Irrati Telebista-Radio Televisión Vasca has been commissioned to report on the presence of a golden jackal (Canis aureus) in the Basque province. The Provincial Council itself has certified that it is a species belonging to the canid family, which usually inhabits the Balkan Peninsula.
This is a milestone for the scientific community, since it is the first record found in the Iberian Peninsula, since the species has spread since the end of the last century through neighboring countries in Europe, as reported by the EITB. The canid has already reached Bulgaria, Hungary, France and Germany, however its discovery in Spain has been a surprise for biologists.
Álava witnessed the presence of a golden jackal on January 8, when several people detected a canine run over on the A-1 highway, near Agurain/Salvatierra.
Once removed from the road, a team of professionals analyzed the animal's DNA to find out the species to which it belonged. After the analysis, the necropsy concluded that the animal found was not an Iberian wolf, since its size and physical features did not match that of this species. Likewise, the analyzes confirmed that the body was not a hybrid with a dog.
The EITB affirms that since the skull and face were destroyed, the analysis carried out at the Martioda Wildlife Recovery Center had to focus on other characteristics of the animal. In this way, the biometric data together with its distinguished features made the Martioda Center consider the possibility that it was a golden jackal.
In a note, the same media state: “But it had to be certified, due to the novelty it entailed. The remains found in the stomach, hair and parts of the wild boar also certified that it could not come from captivity.
After concluding the analysis, it has been confirmed that the animal that has aroused so much interest is a specimen of the species Canis aureus (golden jackal), known as 'the ghost of the forests' due to its stealth. Having an omnivorous diet, being a predator of small mammals, its presence usually goes unnoticed.
The Provincial Deputy for the Environment, Josean Galera, affirms that "this is an unprecedented event in Álava", and it is highly probable that "the expansion of this mesopredator confirms what is already known and documented: the presence of wandering animals in a good part of European countries , from Estonia to France. And for this reason, it is very likely that years will go by without us hearing from this canid in Álava and the Iberian Peninsula”.
