A golden jackal carcass was found near a school in Kharghar on Sunday night, October 10. This is the second such incident in Navi Mumbai this year. As per reports, activist Seema Tank reported the incident after a friend noticed the animal’s body during an evening walk.
Initially, the body was thought to be of a dog. Once it was confirmed to be a jackal, the forest department was notified. By midnight, the carcass was transported to the Panvel Veterinary Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
It would take at least 48 hours to receive the post-mortem results. The last incident could not be fully examined, as only a few parts of the animal's body were found.
In this case, initial reports suggest that the jackal may have wandered onto the road while looking for food. The forest department’s initial findings also show head injuries. This means there is a possibility of a hit-and-run.
The golden jackal, also known as the common jackal, has been classified as least concern by the IUCN Red List and is protected under Schedule II of India’s Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. These animals are native to the Western Ghats and various other regions across India.
The recent case follows a similar discovery in March when another jackal carcass was found in Kharghar’s Sector 16. It is believed that the this incident can be a hit-and-run, as the body was located close to a road divider.
As per sources, illegal encroachments and activities in mangroves and forests are pushing wildlife into urban areas. Interestingly, there are no CCTV cameras in the region. It should be noted that CIDCO has delayed transferring mangrove areas to the forest department, despite a six-year-old High Court order.
The encroachment problem has also led to illegal fishponds, impacting the jackals' food sources. This has resulted in Jackals coming out to roadways. When jackals wander out of jungles, it can lead to many issues. Contact between jackals and stray dogs increases the chances for rabies transmission.
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