Mumbai Records First Rabies Case in Golden Jackals: A Worrying Wildlife Discovery

Mumbai: In a significant concern for wildlife and conservationists, Mumbai has recorded its first case of rabies infection in golden jackals. A forest department official confirmed that rabies was found in the brain samples of one of five jackals that died separately within a month in the city.

"After back-to-back deaths of five golden jackals from the same area, the brain samples of the last dead animal were sent for a rabies test, which returned positive," the official reported. The recent cases have raised questions about the potential spread of rabies among local wildlife.

Two carcasses of golden jackals were recently discovered by the Mumbai Range of Thane Territorial Wing of the Forest Department, while three live jackals were rescued. The live animals were handed over to the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) in Mumbai for urgent treatment and rehabilitation, yet survival proved challenging.

"The first live animal died before treatment. Another golden jackal was treated and stabilised by veterinarians, however, it died within hours of the rescue. The third one died a day after it was rescued from Chembur, showing unusual behaviour," added the official.

Following their deaths, the carcasses were transported to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) for a detailed postmortem. The brain samples from the last deceased animal were then sent to the Mumbai Veterinary College, where rabies was confirmed in the results.

(With PTI Inputs)