Jackal bites youth near Perungudi dumpyard

CHENNAI: A 20-year-old youth playing with a group of friends in an open ground near the Perungudi dump yard was bitten by a jackal on Sunday evening, forest department officials said. The injured youth is recovering at a private hospital in the area. The animal, which was reportedly part of a group of three jackals, later died in a burning garbage heap at the dump yard.
Around 6pm on Sunday, Santhosh of Telephone Nagar, who works in a private firm, was playing with friends when he went to attend a call of nature and saw a jackal. Santhosh, who initially thought it was a dog, threw a stone at the animal which then tried to attack him.
Soon, the panic-stricken youths and others hit the animal with logs and stones, local residents said.
Forest department officials, informed of the incident, immediately went to the spot. S David Raj, Velachery forest range officer, said the youth attacked the jackals. “They first provoked three jackals. Two of the animals ran away while one attempted to attack the youth. It followed the youth for couple of metres and got injured and died in a burning garbage heap near the Perungudi dump yard,” said David Raj after talking to local people.
No case was registered under the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act as the jackal died after falling into a burning heap of garbage, forest department officials said.
Eyewitnesses claimed the jackal was ready to pounce on the group of youth who were trying to chase it away. “The attack has created a sense of fear. We are scared to move out as these animals have now begun straying into human habitation,” said Ammu, a resident.
David Raj said jackals were commonly found in some city areas near reserved forests and unless provoked would not harm people. “Jackals are common in the Guindy national park area and the Pallikaranai marshland,” Davidraj said. Members of the public can contact the Velachery forest range office on 044-2200335 to report about wild animals.