When Street Dogs Attack Wildlife

January 21, 2016November 6, 2017 ~ Lalitha Krishnan ~ Leave a comment

I was out with friends in the Little Rann of Kutch on 18th Jan 2016, exploring the sanctuary for Asiatic wild asses and birds, when we came across this beautiful lone Nilgai (Indian Antelope) standing perfectly still. It was a great photo-op. As I zoomed in I noticed its eyes were focused at a point somewhere behind us. Thinking it odd, we took our shots and moved on. Before we knew it the Nilgai turned around and started sprinting away with two dogs in hot pursuit. Very soon a third dog joined the hunt. The chase continued for a quite a while. The antelope was tiring but the dogs looked like they would go on forever. As much as I love dogs, I mentally rooted for the Nilgai.We didn’t quite expect to see wild dogs or a hunt. I did a second take when I realized these were strays. The sanctuary fringes a village. Never before have I seen strays attack wildlife. There was nothing friendly or domestic about these dogs. They were plain wild. There was something wrong with the whole scenario. It wasn’t the same as watching a wild animal hunting another wild animal!

We kept our eyes on the animals till they disappeared from sight. What happened to the Nilgai? I’ll never know but I’m beginning to think something more needs to be done with managing strays. The incidents of humans being attacked by strays are multiplying. Now they seem to have found new hunting grounds.

Watch the chase here on YouTube: Street Dogs Chase Wild Nilgai

Wild Jackals In My Backyard

July 7, 2013November 6, 2017 ~ Lalitha Krishnan ~ 2 Comments

'Mama' Himalayan Jackal<br />Canis aureus indicus — ‘Mama’ Himalayan Jackal
Canis aureus indicus

When my son walked the dogs a few days ago, he spotted a pack of Jackals with pups. It has been raining incessantly. I wasn’t quite ready to battle the leeches and the cold Himalayan rain to check them out just then. When the weather cleared, I grabbed my camera and was lucky to see the ‘Mama’ with 4-5 pups frolicking in the shrubs like dogs do. The pups looked like they were a month or two old. They seemed oblivious to my presence and I watched them as long as I could…shooting movies and stills on my digital camera. Himalayan jackals here seem rather gentle. They never made a sound; perhaps this is survival tactic! Last year, we had three of them come right up to the path near our house and sit around looking perfectly at ease. My dogs (large Gaddi mixes) nearly broke our front door trying to get at them.

But then two nights ago, I heard pup-like, heart-wrenching cries that lasted a few seconds. All went quiet after that. Had the leopard got one of them? I hope not. I never spotted them again; I hope ‘Mama’ has moved them to a safer place.