It is a noisy animal, capable of vocalizing a complex repertoire of calls used mainly for territorial marking and for strengthening family bonds. For the latter purpose, the pair and the pups gather in a characteristic howling chorus. The most usual call is a sharp yell followed by short yaps. Another frequent voice is a plaintive howl, used when they locate cheetah or a lion pride with their fresh kill. The jackal only replies to calls of its own family members.
Grooming plays an essential role in family bonding.
More numerous parties are frequently seen. These older siblings take care of the pups while parents go out for food, or otherwise they cooperate in foraging. This helper function is very beneficial for the species. On the one hand, the survival rate of pups is much higher in families with helpers, since youngs find a better protection. In addition, the fact that parents can go out to hunt as a team increases the possibilities of killing larger prey.