A jackal trapped recently
KOLKATA: A combination of less aircraft movement and abundant rainfall has turned Kolkata airport’s sprawling grassland around the runway into a happy hunting ground for jackals. In recent weeks, there have been multiple sightings, causing anxiety among pilots and catalyzing a renewed drive to rein them in.
“The reduction in flights emboldened the jackals to move out of the burrows. The monsoon also played a part with the overgrowth providing a cover. After repeat sightings, we have started trapping them. The latest one was on Friday, the second one in July,” said Kolkata airport director Kaushik Bhattacharjee..
Asustained effort last year had nearly freed the airport premises of jackals. But since they breed fast, the pack has again grown. A pair produces between two and four pups in a litter and their gestation period is a mere 63 days; the pups attain reproductive age in less than a year. Striking a jackal weighing around 10kg while making the take-off run or just after landing can cause major damage to aircraft In June, DGCA deputy director D C Sharma had said, “Given the environment of reduced aviation activity, bird and wildlife are expected to expand their environment. Hence, it is advised not to ease wildlife control measures.”
Montu Deb, deputy ranger of forest department’s wildlife crime control unit, said unless the entire population is rehabilitated, it is impossible to free the ground of jackals.
