30 October,2026 08:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Forest officials recover carcass near Airoli Bridge; wildlife enthusiast urges motorists to drive cautiously near natural habitats
Forest department officials at the spot after reaching the site within five minutes of being alerted. Pics/Mahesh Yadav
An Indian golden jackal, a Schedule I species receiving the highest level of legal protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, is suspected to have died after being hit by a vehicle on the Mumbai-bound lane of Mulund-Airoli Road near Airoli Bridge, close to Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.https://d-16457662621353598615.ampproject.net/2608131752000/frame.html
[popcorn number=”80,000″ desc=”Estimated wild population of golden jackal in India” class=”Default”]
Mistaken identity
Initially mistaken for a stray dog, the carcass was identified by naturalist Mahesh Yadav after a friend sent him a photograph. Yadav rushed to the scene and alerted the Mangrove Cell of the forest department. Range Forest Officer Prashant Bahadure promptly dispatched a team.
The carcass was found on the Mumbai-bound lane of Mulund-Airoli Road near Airoli Bridge
Conservation need
Golden jackals play a vital role in forest ecology as omnivores feeding on small mammals, birds, fish, rabbits, and fruit. Experts emphasise that their secretive urban lives, diets, and prey bases require detailed study to improve conservation efforts against hunting, trafficking, and highway accidents.
Ecological role
>> Golden jackals are native to the Indian subcontinent
>> They play a vital role in forest ecology
>> As omnivores, they feed on small mammals, birds, fish, rabbits, and fruit.
>> They frequently fall victim to hunting, wildlife trafficking, human-animal conflict, and highway accidents
>> The species is protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
>> They have an estimated wild population of 80,000
Yadav shares
“The incident came to light this morning when my friend called to inform me about a jackal lying near Airoli Bridge on the Mumbai-bound lane. I asked him to send a picture, which confirmed that the animal was an Indian golden jackal. I immediately went to the spot.”
Swift response
As per Yadav, forest department officials arrived within five minutes, completed the roadkill panchnama, and secured the animal’s remains. Yadav expressed distress over urban wildlife road accidents and urged motorists to drive cautiously near natural habitats.
Urban threats
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region hosts a healthy population of jackals surviving in mangrove patches across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Bhandup, Charkop, Versova, Vasai, Mira-Bhayander, and Ghodbunder Road. However, habitat destruction, feral dogs, and roadkill pose major threats.
