Although jackals occur widely across India, we know very little about them. These images were photographed on the morning of 11th November, 2012 near the Kabini backwaters in Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole Tiger Reserve). We believe that jackals have never been sighted here for past over 15 years, so it’s interesting to know if these jackals have lost their way and have entered the protected forest. Or are there any other reasons for them to been wandering in Nagarahole?
During this sighting, we observed that none of the chital gave alarm calls on seeing the jackals; however they did run away while the langurs gave their typical loud whooping alarm calls to warn other junglefolk of a predator.
Over its entire range, the jackal population is steadily declining. Traditional land use practices, like livestock rearing and dry farming that were conducive to the survival of jackals and other wildlife, are being steadily replaced by industrialization and intensive agriculture. Also, wilderness areas and rural landscapes are being rapidly urbanized. Jackal populations adapt to some extent to this change and may persist for a while, but eventually disappear from such areas like other wildlife (courtesy: IUCN Redlist)
Chosen as 'Picture of the Week'
Over its entire range, the jackal population is steadily declining. Jackal populations adapt to some change and may persist for a while, but eventually disappear from such areas like other wildlife.