Jackal killed in road accident
Forest officials have stated that the jackal may have been hit by a car or heavy weight vehicle.
Mumbai: A golden jackal was killed in a road accident on Eastern Express Highway along Mulund-Airoli Road on Sunday. The Forest Department received a call at around 11 am from anon-government organisation, Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) and rushed to the spot.
They found the jackal’s dead body totally crushed at the site. Forest officials have stated that the jackal may have been hit by a car or heavy weight vehicle.
Members of RAWW told The Asian Age that the jackal’s dead body was first spotted by the organisation's president Pawan Sharma after which they informed the Forest Department.
“A team of three reached the site within 30 minutes after we got a call from RAWW. However, the body of the jackal was found in a disfigured manner and it must have been mowed by a four-wheeler or heavy-weight vehicle,” said Santosh Kank, Range Forest Officer, Mumbai.
According to officials, there have been regular sightings of jackals at the site. According to wildlife activists, as the mangrove area is right next to the highway, it is prone to such accidents with jackals. Last year in November, an injured jackal was rescued from Palm Beach Road, Navi Mumbai after being hit by an unknown vehicle.
”It is important that there are proper signs of jackals and birds at the highways beside mangrove areas, as such species are found mostly at these areas. Also these mangrove areas need to be cordoned off by fencing so that animals do not stray onto the highways," said Sunish Subramanian, Wildlife Warden, Mumbai.