GUWAHATI: An injured black jackal which was rescued from Nakhanda forest near Barpeta town and brought to the Assam State Zoo here for treatment was released in the wilds on Monday evening.
The animal, believed to be a new subspecies or melanistic member of an existing species, was first spotted by residents in the forest on August 3 and brought here for treatment the next day.
“The jackal suffered a leg injury and after undergoing 10 days of treatment at the zoo it has now fully recovered with no signs of stress. The authorities at the zoo informed us about the recovery this morning. Thereafter, it was safely brought to the forest in a cage and released after dusk,” Girindra Adhikary, divisional forest officer, (social forestry), Barpeta told The Shillong Times.
It may be noted that a pack of black jackals or melanistic jackals, unheard of in the country, were discovered at the forest here recently. However, wildlife experts say that only a thorough genetic study can ascertain its true identity.
“After the rescue on August 3, the injured animal was kept at my official residence overnight and then taken to the zoo where it was treated by veterinary officials,” Adhikary said.
The forest land which houses over 400 species of animals and birds is yet to be acquired by the state forest department even as wildlife activists have moved the district administration for declaring it as a protected area.
Melanism is a development of the dark-coloured pigment melanin in the skin mostly found in big cat species which exhibit a melanistic colour variation that results in black fur.
Wildlife photographer and conservationist, David Das who discovered the species at the forest said the species is suspected to be a melanistic member of the golden jackal.
“Nowadays, we regularly sight the species along with the golden jackal mostly early morning or after dusk. It is quite aggressive but does not harm people. However, too much of human interference in any form will surely