Golden jackals no more elusive: urbanisation brings them to Navi Mumbai streets

NatConnect Foundation’s director, B N Kumar said, “The habitats of jackals have been severely attacked due to the construction of projects like the Coastal Road and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Their habitats are under attack, leaving them no option but to venture into urban areas.”

Recent increase in sightings in Navi Mumbai

A recent baseline survey conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society India, in collaboration with the Mangrove Foundation, revealed that golden jackals are predominantly nocturnal, with their activities peaking at dawn and dusk. However, increased sightings during daylight hours hint at the mounting pressure on these creatures to adapt to human-dominated landscapes. By the end of 2024, Navi Mumbai witnessed a rise in jackal sightings. In Kharghar alone, two carcasses of golden jackals were found, with post-mortem reports indicating vehicle collisions as the cause of death.

“These jackals were initially spotted only if we visited their habitats. Lately, however, the number of sightings and accidents has gone up because these animals are losing their homes. It’s sad to see them caught in the crossfire of urbanisation,” said Seema Tank, Animal Welfare Officer of Maharashtra, who has been documenting jackal activities in Navi Mumbai for a long time.

Environmentalists believe the rise in jackal sightings can be attributed to three major reasons. First, they have lost their habitats due to construction and encroachments, forcing them into urban areas. Second, the sight of freely wandering stray dogs has likely influenced jackal behaviour, leading them to venture closer to human settlements. Finally, jackals appear to be adapting to their changing environment; once shy creatures avoiding humans, they are now seen in community spaces, indicating significant behavioural shifts.

Speaking about accidents killing jackals, Pawan Sharma, Honorary Wildlife Warden with the state forest department, explained, “These animals often adapt to changing landscapes by expanding their territories, which sometimes leads them to cross highways where they risk fatal accidents. Preventing such incidents is challenging, as fencing express highways is not feasible, nor can their natural movement be entirely restricted.”

Census of the jackals

Golden jackals play a crucial role in maintaining the biodiversity of mangrove and grassland ecosystems. Along with species like snakes, monkeys, and insects, they contribute to the delicate ecological balance. However, habitat loss from encroachments and poor management threaten their survival. Conservationists have emphasised the importance of conducting a census to accurately track jackal populations and understand their movement patterns.

There has been no census conducted so far by the forest department to determine the population of jackals, but efforts are underway. According to experts, it is difficult to ascertain the population of jackals. “Unlike tigers or leopards, they do not have unique body patterns for their identification, and hence their population can only be studied using ‘relative abundance index’ through surveys using camera traps,” said Nikit Surve, Wildlife Researcher, Wildlife Conservation Society India.

Surveys found jackals in 37 of 44 locations in East Mumbai and 20 of 26 in the West, with the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary recording the highest density at 137 captures per 100 trap nights while Thane has the lowest at 27 captures per 100 trap nights. In Navi Mumbai, 63 jackals have been captured per 100 trap nights.

A ‘trap night’ refers to one camera trap set up and working for a full night in a specific location. It’s a way researchers measure animal activity, like that of jackals. For example, if ten cameras are placed in different spots and left running for five nights, that equals 50 trap nights. The number of times jackals are captured on these cameras during those nights helps researchers understand how active or common they are in the area.

On the other hand, the ‘relative abundance index’ is a simple way to measure how often jackals are observed in a particular area compared to other locations. These metrics help wildlife researchers measure activity or population density by counting how often these cameras detect animals in a given area.

Experts believe there is no direct relation between the number of sightings of jackals with their population, but other factors could lead these animals to urban societies. Jackals have historically been found near wetlands, but their presence is now gaining more attention from residents, especially with the increase in social media postings by residents. Seasonal changes, such as high tides and monsoons, often force these animals onto roads closer to human settlements. However, they do not pose any direct threat to humans, given their nature and appetite needs.

“Jackals are typically shy and tend to avoid human interaction. Due to their smaller size, they generally do not pose a direct threat to humans. However, as wild animals, their behaviour can be unpredictable, especially if provoked or disturbed. Avoiding interference in their natural activities is essential to ensure both human safety and the well-being of other community animals,” added Sharma, who is also the founder & president of the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW).

Need for conservation

To address the plight of golden jackals, conservationists have proposed several measures. Inspired by Project Tiger, they recommend launching a focused initiative to protect jackals and their habitats. Accurate population data through radio-collaring and tracking can help understand their movement and habitat needs. Additionally, operationalising the veterinary hospital in Jui Nagar, which remains non-functional despite being ready, could aid injured or displaced animals.

Strengthening habitat protection is equally vital, particularly transferring mangroves from agencies like CIDCO and JNPA to the Forest Department for better conservation, as mandated by the Bombay High Court.

“The wetlands and mangroves in Navi Mumbai should be placed under the forest department’s management for better monitoring and protection. Without immediate intervention, we risk losing not just golden jackals but an entire ecosystem that depends on these habitats,” said Tank.

Interestingly, in places like the BSNL Quarters in Gorai and the BARC area of Chembur, residents have coexisted peacefully with golden jackals for generations, proving that harmonious human-wildlife interactions are possible. Kharghar now stands at a similar crossroads. As Navi Mumbai expands, it is up to residents, authorities, and environmentalists to strike a balance between development and conservation.