A jackal is one to preserve primitive instincts (5)
I believe the answer is:
canid
'a jackal is one' is the definition.
(I know that Canis aureus is a type of canid)
'preserve primitive instincts' is the wordplay.
'preserve' becomes 'can' (canning is a kind of preserving).
'primitive instincts' becomes 'id' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'can'+'id'='CANID'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for canid that I've seen is " dog maybe".)
I've seen this clue in The Times.
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