Some animals have terrible PR. Take sharks, for example. Ever since the movie "Jaws" came out, generations of people have been convinced that every single shark is out to get them.

Hyenas didn't fare much better either, thanks to "The Lion King".

But jackals seem to have had it worst of all. It's all thanks to one very famous character. Remember Tabaqui the jackal from "The Jungle Book"? Sycophantic, cowardly, devious… Always hanging around Shere Khan, looking for someone to grovel to.

To be honest, growing up, I was absolutely convinced that all jackals were exactly like that. But then I moved to Tanzania. And Africa did what it does best - it shattered yet another stereotype.

Everyone who has ever been on a safari with me knows my one little weakness: I absolutely adore jackal pups. If we are lucky enough to spot them in the savanna, the probability of me squealing with delight is about… one hundred percent. Aren't they just the most adorable babies in the world?

But the real wonder begins when you learn a little more about them. Few people know that jackals are among the most loyal family animals in Africa:

Jackals are one of the very few creatures in the savanna that form monogamous pairs - not just for a season, but for life.
While the mother is nursing the pups, the father brings her food every single day.
Both parents share the pup-rearing duties equally.
When new babies are born, the older siblings often help raise the younger ones - a true family team effort.
Sometimes, jackals even adopt and raise orphaned pups.

Quite a different image from the one our childhood imagination painted, wouldn't you agree?

There is another fact I just love sharing with tourists. When people hear the word "jackal", they usually picture a scavenger. And yes, they will never pass up an easy meal. But it's exactly because of this that jackals perform one of the most critical jobs in the savanna. They are nature's caretakers:

they clean up the remains of kills;
they prevent the spread of diseases;
they maintain the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

In other words, they do the kind of work without which the savanna would look completely different.

And you know what the funny thing is? Sometimes people who dreamed of seeing a lion end up going home with a hundred photos of… jackal pups. Because it's impossible not to fall in love with these funny, big-eared babies. Especially when they play together, hopping funnily in the tall grass, completely unaware that on the other side of the world, they are still considered a symbol of deviousness.

Don't believe in stereotypes. Not about people. Not about animals. Because once you get to know them closer - it turns out that the most "feared" often become the most loved.

And I must confess… if we meet little jackal pups during our safari, don't be surprised if your guide asks to stop for another five minutes. Chances are, that guide will be me 🤍

The Jackal: The Most Unjustly Slandered Animal in Africa