Kerala’s Golden Jackals find home in human-dominated landscapes, not forests: study

An extensive citizen science study has estimated that Kerala is home to a population of 20,000 to 30,000 Golden Jackals (Canis aureus naria).

In one of the most comprehensive assessments of the elusive canid in the State to date, the research undertaken by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Aranyakam Nature Foundation has shed light on the widespread yet underappreciated presence of the species in Kerala’s varied landscapes, from coastal belts to peri-urban settlements.

Titled ‘The Uncelebrated Wanderers: Unravelling the Mysteries of Kerala’s Golden Jackals’, the study led by former Director of Kerala Forest Research Institute P.S. Easa, S. Dhruvaraj and Sandeep Das entailed an innovative blend of citizen science and predictive modelling. It involved over 2,200 participants and recorded more than 5,000 sightings across 874 villages.

Contrary to assumptions that associate wildlife mainly with forested habitats, the study found that only 2% of jackal sightings were from protected forest areas. Instead, jackals thrive in open lowland regions, particularly those below 200 meters in elevation. Their preferred habitats include coconut groves (24%), paddy fields (8%), rubber plantations (6%), rural settlements (10%), and even urban areas (5.6%), showing a remarkable adaptability to human-altered environments.

Geographically, the jackal’s distribution spans much of Kerala, but is notably sparse in the Western Ghats, the Alappuzha coast and Attappady due to habitat unsuitability or competitive pressures. However, isolated populations have been observed in Munnar and Eravikulam as the findings suggest some degree of adaptation to high-altitude ecosystems. Nonetheless, golden jackals have been frequently reported in urban areas in Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram.

A significant majority of the survey respondents (74.7%) do not consider jackals a nuisance. Notably, many even acknowledge their role in controlling pests such as rodents and wild boars.

Concerns

However, concerns linger about poultry predation, cases of rabies and the species’ increasing reliance on organic waste, especially in coastal areas. Their dependency on anthropogenic waste raises ecological and public health concerns, while also pointing to a need for improved waste management practices.

The report also flags an emerging threat of hybridisation with stray dogs, which could compromise the jackal’s genetic integrity. With rapid urbanisation continuing to shrink open habitats, the study calls for an urgent realignment of conservation policies to protect landscapes beyond protected areas, preserving open spaces in both rural and urban planning, enhancing public awareness to mitigate conflict and sustained scientific studies to monitor jackal populations and threat.