Abhijeet S. during the shooting of his documentary in Chenoli, Perambra. A flock of jackals was seen by Suresh. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A 27-year-old wildlife enthusiast’s passion for observing wild animals exhibiting adaptability and resilience has led him to investigate the golden jackal, which is often mistaken for a fox, to potentially encourage conservation efforts and prevent their extinction. 24 Inspired to make a documentary of the minute.

Abhijeet S., a native of Perambara. Suresh’s award-winning documentary, Follow the Howl: Jackal – The Real Storyreveals fascinating insights about these clever canids, which researchers often call “opportunistic foragers.”

“It took two years to complete this challenging project, which was released on October 8 on my YouTube channel ‘Earth Echoes’ after winning the state award from the forest department for best short film during the recent Wildlife Week celebrations. , It has received an enthusiastic response from the audience,” said Abhijeet, who handled the camera and post-production. He said the entire story of the film revolves around a granite quarry near his home in Chenoli, Perambra.

A post-graduate in journalism, Abhijeet has long been a keen observer of the mysterious world of jackals, known as ‘Kurunaris’ in the local language, with their distinctive golden rust coat and bushy tail. His passion for wildlife photography has played a vital role in capturing the distinctive views of jackals, showcasing their feeding habits, unique habitat features, survival strategies and harmonious life traits.

Through specific scenes, Abhijeet also revealed that jackals instinctively place their feces where the pack has trained them. The footage also highlights their self-cleaning methods, such as rubbing their undersides against rocks, and their strategy of marking territory. The documentary pays due attention to the vocal range of jackals and their unique communication methods.

Emphasizing the need for a better conservation strategy for jackals and addressing the treatment of parasites and infectious infections within the group, this 24-minute film urges authorities to conduct more focused research on interspecific hybridization of this canid species. Does it. Since jackals play a valuable role for farmers in controlling rodent populations, Abhijeet believes this will be a rewarding initiative to protect the spectacle of the Indian forest in our own land.