A Tale of the Golden Fur: How Golden Jackals Co-exist in the Urban Sprawl of Mumbai

Mumbai is gifted with an abundance of biodiversity and flora and fauna. It is the only city in the world to have a national park within its boundaries. At times, we forget that Mumbai is an unparalleled example of urban wildlife. With more than 200 to 250 species of birds, animals like leopards, species of deer and various other mammals make it a varied ecosystem. Similarly, the city is also home to an expansive mangrove forest. If one goes to see the map of the old Mumbai, at every nook and curve of the coast, one would find a mangrove forest. These mangroves play a pivotal role in maintaining the balance in our now heavily urbanised ecosystem. From protecting our coasts from tsunamis and gigantic tides during monsoon, acting as a breeding ground for fish and a nesting place, these mangroves are home to a variety of birds and animals. One of them would be a rather sheepishly shy and nocturnal mammal — the Golden Jackal.

Bright shines the golden fur

It is said that the Golden Jackals were found in India in various environments, including urban and semi-urban areas. In the early 1900s, this shy mammal was seen frolicking around the romanticised Marine Drive and other parts of South Bombay. Though the exact population of these mammals is unknown, they are present in various mangroves around the city, like Vashi, Gorai and Thane as well. The mapping of these Golden Jackals was in collaboration with a few wildlife biologists and the Wildlife Conservation Society of India. After setting up around 68 camera traps along the mangrove forest of Navi Mumbai, the results astounded the WCS and the biologists. They found a pack of five golden jackal families with cubs and lactating females, which was a strong indication of a growing population.

But, how are these mammals living in such a close environment with human habitat? The answer to this mind-bending question is that these mammals are highly nocturnal and only wander around the city during peaks of dawn and dusk. Because of their shy nature, these mammals could easily sustain the human encroachment in their abode while they thrived. But why mangroves? Unfortunately, there is no specific information on this, but one of the reasons could be the immense supply of food and water. These nocturnal creatures would usually feed on the species found in these mangroves, like fish, crabs, and carcasses. They often also feed on the remnants of debris and help in cleaning the surroundings. 

These furry friends of ours were also found in Mumbai when it was an archipelago of seven islands, roughly 109 years ago. Today, however, the golden jackals are present only in the mangroves of the MMR. There is yet to be more research on how these jackals have co-existed for around 109 years with humans and their population distribution. For many developmental projects of the city, like the construction of the Versova-Bandra Sea Link, a huge chunk of the mangrove forest was destroyed. This affects the ecosystem and also the livelihood of the local fishermen, who would fish from these mangrove waters. The mangroves provide a diverse dietary range for our golden furry friends. An analysis of 38 scat samples revealed that their diet consisted of mammalian remains, vegetative matter, birds and even the occasional crabs, fish and snakes. However, what was alarming was the amount of plastic content found in these scans. 

Other species found in Mumbai mangroves

Other than these jackals, various other animals were reported to exist in these mangrove forests. Species like the Grey Indian Mongoose, Indian Civets, Jungle Cats, and even the apex predator of the food chain, the mighty Leopard, were captured. This strongly suggests that these mangroves boast a variety of wildlife ranging from the bottom to the top of the pyramid. Cutting down these mangrove forests would completely harm the ecosystem, which has been flourishing all these years despite human intervention. 

Threat to our golden furry friends

Surprisingly, the golden jackals were not the only furry friends in these mangroves; stray dogs were also found thriving in these forests. Due to proximity to dogs, there is a danger of hybridisation with these furry animals. There were multiple reports of the jackals dying, as they had fallen prey to rabies. Stray dogs were also seen marking territories where these jackals had too, making it a tough place for them to survive. Though these jackals are classified as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a recent amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act in 2022 has elevated our golden friend’s status in India, granting it the highest level of protection as a Schedule I species. 

In an era where the concrete jungles seem to be taking over our green forests, it is necessary to protect the existing wildlife and biodiversity or what is left of it.