An adult male golden jackal was saved from a 40-foot-deep open well in Bajaria village, Pinahat, near Agra. The joint effort by Wildlife SOS and the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department ensured the animal’s safe extraction and subsequent release into a nearby suitable habitat.
Residents of Bajaria village were alarmed by distress cries coming from a dry well. Upon investigation, they discovered the golden jackal trapped inside, unable to escape. They immediately contacted local forest officers, who reached out to Wildlife SOS for expert assistance.
A two-member team from Wildlife SOS arrived with the necessary rescue equipment. The team worked for an hour to safely lower a specially designed cage into the well and extract the frightened jackal. After a thorough medical examination on-site, the animal was deemed healthy and was released back into the wild.
Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, commented, “Open wells present a significant threat to wildlife, with an estimated 8.7 million such wells in India. This successful rescue underscores the importance of community involvement and collaboration with local authorities to mitigate such dangers.”
Baiju Raj M.V., Director of Conservation Projects at Wildlife SOS, added, “The jackal was understandably frightened, and this rescue highlights the dangers that man-made structures pose to wild animals. We are always ready to assist with such rescues, ensuring that wildlife is returned safely to its natural habitat.”
Golden jackals (Canis aureus) are an essential part of the forest ecosystem in India, where they help control populations of smaller mammals and contribute to the balance of the food chain. Despite their importance, they face significant threats from hunting, wildlife trafficking, human-wildlife conflict, and accidents. Protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the golden jackal’s population in India is estimated at around 80,000 individuals.
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