PREDATORS such as the black-backed jackal cost SA more than R1.3bn a year in losses of sheep and goats. The annual loss of cattle to jackals is more than R380m and antelope on wildlife ranches are also vulnerable.This equates to losses of more than R2bn each year.This is according to extensive surveys conducted in the past decade by Prof HO de Waal and his postgraduate colleagues at the Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences at the University of the Free State.In an attempt to reduce these unsustainable losses and their associated risks to food security and biodiversity, many farmers have been targeting jackals and other predators, such as caracals, with lethal results. Yet, the jackal population is more resilient than ever."There is always the risk of management interventions developing unexpected and adverse outcomes — and even increasing the problem."This is what is happening with our on-farm black-backed jackal populations control measures," says top South African...
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