In the course of the second week of research, the golden jackal in the role of bait-site host began to be recognized. The name given to him was Black Tail in view of his very dark bushy tail. Other defining features were very faint chest chevrons – both the one between the neck and the shoulder, and the one behind the shoulder.

After months of planning, scouting and preparation, a new chapter in our Danube fieldwork has begun. Our Base camp has now been established at River Km 842 on the Bulgarian stretch of the great blue waters. The location was chosen for its combination of open meadow, dense woodland cover and immediate proximity to the river corridor. These habitats provide ideal conditions for monitoring golden jackals and observing the wider wildlife community that thrives along this sectio