Jackals on prowl in Kupwara villages

Kupwara, Jan 24 : A man was critically injured when a pack of jackals attacked him in Handwara area.

Locals said that Muhammad Jammal Teli son of Ghulam Mohammad Teli resident of Ashpora was collecting firewood in nearby forest when jackals attacked him.

“When jackals dragged him, he raised an alarm which attracted attention of the villagers who rushed to the spot. They managed to chase the jackals and rescue Teli,” locals said.

Teli was rushed to district hospital Handwara wherefrom he was referred to SKIMS, Soura for specialized treatment.

A day earlier jackals slaughtered five sheep at Cheepora village of Lolab area here.

Increasing number of jackals in Chowgul, Harden ,Pohrupith, Hazishaat, Haripora, Sigipora, Ashpora, Budbugh, Shatigam, Shanu, Zachaldara has become a serious concern for locals here.

“Jackals enter residential areas during the broad daylight and devour our poultry and livestock. We are living under constant fear,” said Muhammad Adil Khan of Cheepora Lolab.

“The real danger is that if some jackals become rabid. They could attack humans and spread the deadly rabies disease among them,” said a local veterinarian wishing not to be named.

“Rabies, which results in hydrophobia, is a deadly disease and is usually caused by the bite of a rabid dog,” he said. He said that some jackals could be “silent carriers” of rabies without showing symptoms usually noticed in rabid dogs.
 Experts attribute sudden rise in the jackal population to the fact that hunting of these animals stopped with the outbreak of militancy in these areas in 1989.

“Locals used to hunt jackals for two reasons–they are real menace as they attack sheep and poultry birds and also that their fur was used to fetch money,” said Muhammad Abdullah a wildlife watcher.

“As hunting both as a sport and as an occupation became impossible after 1989, the jackal population has increased,” Abdullah said.

 Locals demand that the jackal population must be checked at an earliest, failing which it could pose a serious threat to livestock, poultry and people.

When contacted Muhammad Rouf Wildlife Warden held Kashmir circle said in winters jackals come down to residential areas in search of food.

“As they find food readily available in the villages they generally remain silent during the day time and become furious after dusk. People should take care and need not venture out during the late hours,” he said.

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