Archive · 29 Jul 2025
Study: Golden Jackals Thrive in Kerala, Favor Human Habitats
Scientists have studied golden jackals in Kerala and found a lot of them living near people!
About 20,000 to 30,000 jackals make their home in Kerala.
They like to live in places like farms and villages rather than deep forests.
You can find them near cities like Kannur and Kozhikode.
However, there are some problems.
The jackals are losing their homes, eating unhealthy food, and might mix with stray dogs, which could cause problems for their future.
This study is important for finding ways to protect them.
Study reveals Kerala is home to an estimated 20,000-30,000 golden jackals.
Jackals prefer human-modified landscapes over dense forests.
They are found in cashew, coconut, mango plantations, paddy fields, and rural settlements.
Urban centers like Kannur and Kozhikode also host jackals.
Threats include habitat loss, health issues from garbage, and potential hybridization with stray dogs.
- Who
- Researchers from Aranyakam Nature Foundation, including P.S. Easa, Sandeep Das, and S. Dhruvraj.
- What
- A study revealed the golden jackal population and their habitats in Kerala.
- When
- The study was recently completed.
- Where
- Kerala, India.
- Why
- To understand the population, habitat, and threats to golden jackals in Kerala.
Conservation Concerns
N/A
Genetic Integrity
Conservation Concerns
Researchers are concerned about the jackals' long-term genetic integrity due to potential hybridization with stray dogs.
N/A
N/A
- Estimated Population
- 20,000-30,000
- Species
- Golden Jackal (Canis aureus naria)
- Preferred Habitats
- Human-modified landscapes
- Study Participants
- 2,200
- Sightings Recorded
- 5,000+
- Villages Surveyed
- 874
- Threats
- Habitat loss, health issues, hybridization