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Rabid jackal alert following girl’s agonising death
People in the Millaniya, Punsiripura area and other areas armed with sticks and machetes in fear of jackal attacks. Pix by Bimal Jayasinghe
Any sightings of jackals exhibiting violent behavior should be reported immediately, the wildlife department said, following the death of a child believed to have been attacked by a rabid jackal.
The Director of Wildlife Health, Dr. Tharaka Prasad, advised the public not to approach aggressive jackals.
“Normal jackals flee from people but rabid jackals are violent and are known to attack people,” he said.
Dr. Prasad said some jackals in Horana had contracted rabies.
He asked the public to call the Department of Wildlife hotline 1992 if they saw an aggressive jackal, and said wildlife officers would euthanase the animal.
8-year-old victim
The department issued the alert following the deaths of two people from jackal attacks in the Horana area, where there have also been other jackal attacks resulting in cattle deaths.
An eight-year-old girl died last week after reportedly being clawed by a jackal at the Muwapattiya, Horahena area in Horana. She and a man had been attacked by the animal on July 28.
The child, Kavini Nethsara Wijayakumar, was admitted to Horana Hospital after complaining of back pain and difficulty with breathing and swallowing, but died last Wednesday, 42 days after the jackal attack.
Police suspect the girl was bitten by a rabid jackal. Coroner Sumedha Gunawardena gave an open verdict on the death and instructed regional health officials to see to the safety of people in the area.
The man who was attacked at the same time as the girl, 58-year-old Nammuni Ariyaratna Silva, died on August 17, some three weeks after the attack.
Death from rabies is agonising. The publication, Scientific American, states: “Rabies kills by compromising the brain’s ability to regulate breathing, salivation and heartbeat; ultimately, victims drown in their own spit or blood, or cannot breathe because of muscle spasms in their diaphragms. One-fifth dies from fatal heart arrhythmia.”
Dr. Prasad said health authorities were carrying out a rabies vaccination programme in Horana as dogs in the area as well as some cattle were found with symptoms of rabies.
The wildlife department is considering the feasibility of delivering rabies vaccine to jackals through an ingestion method but are fearful the risky procure might kill jackals.
The Divisional Secretary of Millaniya, 10km from Horana town, Samanthika Liyanage, said most local residents are living in fear of jackals.
“Now people in the Millaniya, Punsiripura area and other areas are carrying sticks and machetes in their hands due to fear of getting bitten by jackals,” she said.
Suspected rabid cattle being tranquilised before being vaccinated
Local residents had observed that jackals were showing aggression and venturing towards villages. Ms. Liyanage advised people bitten or scratched by jackals to immediately seek medical treatment.
The head of the wildlife department, Chandana Sooriyabandara said his officers are working together with local police and health department officials to prevent more attacks. “If the animals have become a threat to the people’s safety we will remove them,” he said.