Tamil Nadu sanctions Rs 1.3 crore to conserve Bengal fox and jackal
The state government has approved funds to protect species that are critical for maintaining ecological balance in various districts.
The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned Rs 1.3 crore this year for a conservation plan to protect the Bengal fox and the golden jackal, according to The Hindu. The initiative aims to preserve these species, which are considered vital for maintaining ecological balance in their habitats.
The plan follows an announcement made by the then Forests Minister K. Ponmudy in the State Legislative Assembly during his March 2025 Budget speech. Both the Indian Bengal fox (Vulpes bengalensis) and the golden jackal (Canis aureus) are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, providing them the highest level of legal protection.
A preliminary study by the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) found that the numbers and ranges of these species had dwindled over the past three to four decades. Forest Department officials stated that the species are now only known to occur in pockets within the Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Madurai, and Villupuram districts.
The conservation objectives include identifying critical habitats, protecting and improving habitats, controlling poaching, and creating awareness among stakeholders. The plan also includes the establishment of a captive breeding centre in the Salem Zoo.
The Chief Wildlife Warden previously sent a proposal for Rs 92.5 lakh, requesting the use of unspent balances from the last fiscal year. While the erstwhile DMK government had accorded administrative and financial sanction for Rs 2 crore, the current sanction stands at Rs 1.3 crore.
Forest officials noted that the conservation plan will require inter-departmental coordination because these are considered edge-species that live between forests and agricultural landscapes.