Golden jackal found dead on Mulund-Airoli road near Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary

An Indian golden jackal was found dead on the Mumbai-bound lane of the Mulund-Airoli road, near Airoli Bridge. The spot is close to the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary. The animal is suspected to have died after being hit by a vehicle. The golden jackal is a Schedule I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, which means it enjoys the highest level of legal protection.

People initially mistook it for a stray dog. Naturalist Mahesh Yadav was phoned by a friend, who said a jackal was lying on the Mumbai-bound lane near Airoli Bridge. Yadav asked his friend to send photographs, which confirmed it was an Indian golden jackal. "I decided to reach the spot immediately," Yadav said. This was on the same morning his friend called.

On reaching the spot, Yadav informed the forest department's Mangrove Cell. Range Forest Officer Prashant Bahadure immediately sent a team. According to Yadav, forest officials arrived within five minutes, completed the panchnama of the roadkill and took the animal's remains into their custody.

Yadav expressed regret over wild animals dying in road accidents in urban areas. He appealed to motorists to drive carefully when passing near natural habitats.

Golden jackals are native to the Indian subcontinent and play an important role in forest ecosystems. They are omnivores and feed on small mammals, birds, fish, rabbits and fruit. Their wild population in the country is estimated at about 80,000. Hunting, wildlife trafficking, human-animal conflict and highway accidents are major threats to them. Experts say the elusive urban lives, diet and prey base of jackals need to be studied closely so that efforts to protect them can improve.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region has a good jackal population, found in the mangrove areas of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Bhandup, Charkop, Versova, Vasai, Mira-Bhayandar and Ghodbunder Road. Even so, loss of habitat, stray dogs and road accidents remain major threats to them.