By The Golden Jackal Returns: A Reminder from the Wetlands
A golden jackal roams once more, echoing the tale of the jackal who painted himself blue to stand apart. Recently, the wetlands of Thalangama and Kimbulawela have become the backdrop for rare sightings of the elusive golden jackal (Canis aureus), a species seldom seen in the suburbs of Colombo. While these encounters are thrilling, they also serve as a crucial reminder of the invaluable role wetlands play in preserving biodiversity.
One such sighting occurred on February 1 at the Thalangama Wetlands, where bird enthusiast Chathura De Silva stumbled upon a family of three golden jackals. He had arrived early to photograph birds, patiently waiting for the perfect shot of a flock of Munias when something unexpected appeared in his viewfinder—a dog-like figure. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was no ordinary dog but a golden jackal.
A Chance Encounter: Jackals at Thalangama
“I had been waiting silently for the birds, so the jackals wandered close without noticing me,” Mr. De Silva recounted. “I’ve spotted a golden jackal here once before, but it disappeared before I could capture a photo.”
His discovery came just a day before World Wetlands Day on February 2, underscoring the urgent need to protect these fragile ecosystems.
Golden jackals are a rarity in Colombo, but another sighting was reported two months earlier, on December 4, at the Kimbulawela Wetlands near Parliament. Birdwatcher Priyanath Kotalawela spotted a pair of jackals at 6:45 a.m. “There’s a paddy field at Kimbulawela, but on that morning, the farmers were absent. Maybe that allowed the jackals to move freely,” he speculated.
For the next three days, the jackals continued to appear in the same area, leading Mr. Kotalawela to believe they belonged to a family with a home range near Pamunuwa. Though he had spent two years trying to photograph them based on a friend’s tip, the jackals had always managed to elude his lens.
Despite their declining numbers, golden jackals still persist in wetland habitats around the city. Professor Sampath Seneviratne from the University of Colombo notes that scattered populations remain in Malabe’s wetlands, and roadkill incidents have been reported along the Galanigama stretch of the Southern Expressway.
Prof. Seneviratne, along with researchers Uthpalawarna Jayaweera and Chandika Jayaratne, co-authored The Way of the Jackal, a monograph detailing the species’ taxonomy, behavior, vocalizations, and ecological significance.
Golden jackals, traditionally found in Sri Lanka’s dry zone, have long been woven into the island’s natural heritage and folklore. Wetlands provide them with ideal hunting grounds, rich in both food and shelter. However, jackal populations are in steep decline. Prof. Seneviratne estimates that over the past 30 to 40 years, their numbers have plummeted by as much as 60%, with local extinctions occurring in several regions.
These recent sightings are more than just rare moments—they highlight the urgent need to protect Colombo’s last remaining wetlands. Not only for the jackals but for the countless other species that depend on these vital ecosystems for survival. How ever every one in the area were not delighted by the sigting , some were woried if there would be to many jackals in this urban vicinity to soon.
