Speedy Summary
- A citizen science study by the NGO Aranyakam Nature Foundation estimates Kerala’s Golden jackal population at 20,000 to 30,000.
- the study titled “The Uncelebrated Wanderers” involved over 2,200 participants and recorded more than 5,000 sightings across 874 villages. Predictive modeling was also used in the research.
- Jackals prefer open lowland regions like coconut groves (24%), paddy fields (8%), rubber plantations (6%), rural settlements (10%), and even urban areas (5.6%). Only 2% of sightings were from protected forest areas.
- Sparse populations are observed in the Western Ghats, Alappuzha coast, and Attappady due to unsuitable habitat or competitive pressures; isolated populations have adapted to some high-altitude ecosystems like Munnar and Eravikulam.
- Urban presence is meaningful in cities such as Kannur, kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram.
- Survey results show that nearly three-fourths of respondents do not view jackals as a nuisance; many recognize their role in pest control.
- Concerns arise regarding poultry predation, rabies risk due to reliance on organic waste near human habitats and coastal zones. Hybridization with stray dogs is flagged as an ecological threat compromising genetic integrity.
- study calls for conservation policies focused on maintaining open habitats beyond protected areas through urban-rural planning reforms.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The findings from Kerala’s golden jackal survey reveal significant adaptability among wildlife species coexisting within human-modified landscapes-a reflection of nature’s resilience but also its shifting dynamics under growing developmental pressure. The proactive contributions by local citizens add value not only by enhancing ecological knowledge but highlight how community-led conservation efforts can fill critical gaps where formal systems fall short.
However, challenges such as dependency on anthropogenic waste spotlight critical issues requiring robust waste management policies aligned with localized urban environmental planning strategies for lasting coexistence between humans & wildlife avoiding inadvertently turning once ecologically beneficial non-nuisance creatures’ troubles Rising pressure favoring breeding initiatives scientific monitoring installations tackling hybrid stray-dogs genetic threats may useful future overall direction protection goldenintegrity!
For further details: Read More