Tourists and Jackals in Namibia

Marie Frei July 30, 2014

Black backed jackal in Dead Vlei, Namibia

At the start of 2014, I was traveling in Dead Vlei, Namibia. When I was in the same location a year earlier, I didn't see any jackals bothering tourists (admittedly, that could have been random luck).

Black backed jackal laying down in Dead Vlei, Namibia

Earlier this day, I saw a different jackal drinking something from beneath an overland truck—I suspect a water tank leak, but I can't be sure. 

Black backed jackal and tourist in Dead Vlei, Namibia​

I think this photo captures the impact of tourist traffic in this park (now, a World Heritage Site) and will hopefully make people think twice before tossing scraps to a wild animal.