Beach Jackals

Threatened by the guns of Southern Africa's farmers, some black-backed jackals have found a new shelter in a restricted and arid area: Namibia's Skeleton Coast. Here, they adapt to a new lifestyle. They are learning to catch new coastal prey, and how to collaborate to catch bigger ones such as the fur seals. This requires cooperative hunting--a behavior rarely seen amongst these canids--and therefore social and communication skills. Some jackals succeed, others become scavengers...or die. By following a few remarkable individuals over a period of four years, the team has crafted an intimate portrait of an emerging behavior in a rapidly evolving environment.