Tourists capture rare sighting of jackal in Atyrau region

Tengrinews.kz – Tourists visiting the Akzhayyk nature reserve in Atyrau region managed to film a jackal during an excursion, a rare encounter with the elusive predator.

The reserve’s official Instagram account published the video, noting that the sighting took place on September 27.

“During the tour, tourists spotted a jackal and managed to record this rare moment on video,” the reserve reported.

According to the reserve, the animal seen in the footage was a young jackal. While the species is not listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book, it is under special protection.

Resembling a small wolf, the jackal has a dirty-gray coat with yellowish tones, turning black on its back and sides. Its lifestyle depends largely on available food sources, alternating between hunting and scavenging.

Officials estimate that around 200 jackals currently inhabit the Akzhayyk protected area.