Records of the golden jackal (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758) in Hungary from 1800 th until 2007, based on a literature survey

We give a comprehensive over-view of the observation of the golden jackal or reed wolf (Canis aureus), from the beginning of the 1800s until 1995 in Hungary, based on the available literature. We discuss 57 observations from the period surveyed, seven reports that mentioned canids but certainly not a jackal, 26 questionable cases, and 16 records that certainly refer to jackals. These included records from historical Hungary as well: two from present Serbia, one from present Ukraine, one from present Croatia, and six from present Romania. Until the 1920s, the jackal was observed in Hungary only along major rivers and between the Danube and Tisza, and records are almost missing in the 1920-1945 period, whereas in the last 50 years surveyed, the number of observations increased. Since 1980 the Hungarian jackal population is constantly increasing, its beeing estimated at above 1500 individuals in 2007. We discuss the distribution pattern observed in the light of the geographical and historical changes that took part in the country in the last few decades.