Years after being driven away from their natural habitat by humans, jackals, which had taken refuge in city’s open spaces, will soon be rehabilitated and provided an alternative habitat by the wildlife wing of the state forest department.

Following a study conducted by the Zoological Survey of India, the department will identify and relocate one such group of jackals from the Tollygunge Club area.

In the club area, the population of the omnivorous jackal has increased manifold and the residents had recently urged the forest department to relocate the jackals.

“We had received an application from the club that the growing population of these jackals inside the premises was creating problems. They (the club officials) were afraid that there might be instances of people walking inside the club panicking and possibilities of man-animal conflict. We asked the Zoological Survey to provide a report. Based on the recommendations we are taking up the pilot project of relocating some of the pack and monitoring the situation,” said S B Mondal, principal chief conservator of forest, wildlife and chief wildlife warden.

According to the study by the Zoological Survey of India, the club premises have 50 plus jackals. Though the carrying capacity (the limit till which there is no conflict among the herd) has not increased, the population is on the rise.

“There are many places in the city where we used to see jackals before. However, now there are only a few open places where they stay. But we are thinking of rehabilitating them to safer zones where there will not be any animal-human conflict. The animals in Tollygunge Club premises have changed their habit and now have become diurnal (from their usual nocturnal self). Once the carrying capacity starts increasing there could be conflicts,” said P K Mitra of the wildlife wing, state forest department.

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