Mumbai NGO to reunite rescued jackal with its family

Pawan Sharma, founder and president of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) and honorary wildlife warden of Thane district

A 1-2-month-old jackal pup, who was rescued from the creekside mangrove area of Navi Mumbai on February 22, is at present undergoing treatment, after which plans are to carry out a reunion with family.

The young jackal was stuck in the creek and was rescued by a fisherman.

Pawan Sharma, founder and president of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) and honorary wildlife warden of Thane District said, "The jackal pup was later taken over by an animal rescuer and handed over to RAWW for its treatment and rehabilitation. The animal was medically examined by Dr Rina Dev, who told us that it was starving, having temperature and had worms in its stomach. Initially, the animal was on fluids for almost a week, it then gradually stabilised and is now on solid food."

The young jackal was stuck in the creek and was rescued by a fisherman. Pic/RAWW

The jackal has only one eye and experts suspect it has been so since birth. After the animal is fully stabilised, a rehabilitation plan will be chalked out along with the mangrove cell of the state forest department.

"We are currently trying to evaluate whether the animal was abandoned or separated from its family. Reuniting immediately was not possible as the animal was critical. We plan to make attempts once it stabilises. If not so, then raising and releasing or lifetime captivity will be the other options available," Sharma said.

There is a huge mangroves forest patch in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in areas like a portion of the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, Bhandup Pumping Station, Charkop, Versova, Vasai, Bhayander, Ghodbunder road etc. While there have been many sightings of jackals in these locations, no proper study has been carried out about them.

The Golden jackal, also known as the Indian jackal is native to the Indian subcontinent and plays a significant ecological role in forest ecosystems. They are omnivorous in nature and feed on a variety of small mammals, birds, fishes, hares and even fruits. The species is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and its estimated wild population is said to be 80,000.

22 Feb
Day when the young jackal was rescued by a fisherman