An extensive citizen science study has estimated that Kerala is home to a population of 20,000 to 30,000 Golden Jackals (Canis aureus naria).

In one of the most comprehensive assessments of the elusive canid in the State to date, the research undertaken by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Aranyakam Nature Foundation has shed light on the widespread yet underappreciated presence of the species in Kerala’s varied landscapes, from coastal belts to peri-urban settlements.