Jackal rescued from Aarey Milk Colony

MUMBAI: A female jackal was rescued from a house near Khadakpada pump house, close to Picnic Spot at Aarey Colony, Goregaon on Monday.

MUMBAI: A female jackal was rescued from a house near Khadakpada pump house, close to Picnic Spot at Aarey Colony, Goregaon on Monday.

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The animal, which had a severe skin infection, was taken to the veterinary clinic at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) by animal welfare officers.

SGNP officials said while jackals, which is a protected species, were common in the park, they are a rare sighting at Aarey. It was not clear whether the animal had come from the adjoining forest or had been released from captivity.

“We found the jackal sitting at an isolated spot at our backyard on Monday,” said Sunjay Pawar, resident of Aarey. “We suspect that it was being attacked and took refuge from the rain on Sunday night near a pile of wood at our house. We informed the forest department and Aarey officials but only an animal rescue group arrived by the afternoon.”

Members of Shree Ramanugrah Trust for Animals transported the injured animal to SGNP around 1pm. “Contrary to the fact that jackals are ferocious, this female was not aggressive and needed immediate treatment. It had a maggot infection under its legs and an injury on the lower half of its body,” said Omkar Rane, head of department of the trust.

SGNP veterinarian Dr Shailesh Pethe said the jackal was being kept in isolation near the lion cages at SGNP.

“The jackal was diagnosed with eczema, a skin condition that causes scaly patches and red skin,” he said, adding that jackals had not been found in Aarey. “The animal is very weak, highly malnourished and anaemic. We will only take a call to release the animal after its treatment is completed over the next 72 hours.”