Doomdooma: An injured jackal found along National Highway 38 near Anand Bagh under the Digboi Forest Division in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district was rescued by local wildlife conservationists and sent to the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) for medical treatment on Friday.
The animal was spotted on Thursday night, prompting Mamorani resident Bikash Bora to contact wildlife conservationists, said rescuer Devajit Moran.
“With the help of Bikash Bora and Akash Moran, we rescued the injured jackal and, after discussing the matter with the Digboi Divisional Forest Officer, arranged to keep it at the Digboi Range,” Moran said.
The rescue team contacted the Forest Department again on Friday morning and arranged to send the animal to WTI for treatment. The rescuers said they hoped the jackal would recover and eventually be released into its natural habitat.
The incident highlights the risks faced by wildlife along highways that pass through natural habitats, where vehicle traffic and increasing human activity can threaten animal movement.
Jackals (Canis aureus) are adaptable mammals that play an ecological role as scavengers and predators. Their presence has been documented in Tinsukia’s Upper Dihing forest landscape, according to the India Biodiversity Portal, although a verified district-wide population estimate is not readily available.
Under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2022, jackals are listed in Schedule I, which provides stringent legal protection against hunting and other prohibited activities.