The jackal which died recently in Mumbai tested positive for rabies infection, making this incident probably the first case of a rabies-infected death of wildlife in Mumbai. Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF), Wildlife West, Dr V Clement Ben, said, “The samples from the dead jackal that were sent to the Mumbai Veterinary College lab have tested positive for rabies. This is a serious issue and the Mangroves Cell and Thane Forest Department (territorial) are advised to take all the needful measures to prevent further deaths of Jackals.”

On Monday (October 28), mid-day carried a story ‘Forest dept to investigate the rise in jackal deaths in Chembur’ which highlighted how in a concerning series of events, five jackals had died in the Trombay-Chembur belt over the past month, prompting investigations by the forest department. While the reason behind their deaths is unknown, sources from the forest department told mid-day that the sick jackals that were rescued showed behaviours indicative of a potential rabies infection.