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April fools of the wild; the ancient trickery of the jackal
View(s):By Malaka Rodrigo
On April 1, as people trade tricks and laughter to make “April Fools” of one another, a different kind of deception comes to mind; one that unfolds in Sri Lanka’s scrub forests, chena lands and village edges and associated with the Sri Lankan Jackal (Canis aureus naria). A subspecies of the golden jackal, this animal, the island’s only wild canine, is known to villagers as “nariya” and is regarded as a master of cunning.
Scientists, however, suggest that what appears as trickery is in fact a product of intelligence and survival. “Jackals are smart animals that use behaviour which can be interpreted as cunning. to find food or avoid danger,” says Sampath Seneviratne, a professor of the Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, noting that their success lies in adaptability, cooperation and an ability to read their environment.
This reputation is deeply embedded in culture, where the jackal appears as a trickster in Buddhist Jataka tales and folklore. Stories such as The Blue Jackal, The Lion and the Jackal and regional versions of The Fox and the Crow portray it as a clever manipulator, reinforcing its image as an animal that relies on wit rather than strength.
A pair of jackals at Bowila wetlands Kaduwela and the female jackal is seen digging an underground tunnel in search of rodents. Pix by Amila Salgado
This perception is grounded in behaviour, says Prof. Seneviratne. Living close to people, jackals move along irrigation bunds, abandoned fields and even garbage dumps, feeding on anything from rodents to refuse. They are patient hunters, often waiting for the right moment, and sometimes working in pairs using distraction tactics. Around humans, they remain cautious, emerging mostly at dusk or night time to avoid detection.
Their adaptability is evident in wetlands in the outskirts of Colombo, including Thalangama wetland, Kimbulawela wetland and Kaduwela. According to wildlife researcher Chandika Jayaratne who is studying the jackals, these mosaic habitats provide both food and cover, allowing jackals to thrive even in urban fringes while remaining largely unseen.
The jackals have long survived quietly in the wetlands around Colombo, largely unnoticed, but it was the keen eyes of naturalists and wildlife photographers that recently brought them into the spotlight. Images captured in the wetlands of Thalangama and Kimbulawela in 2024 and 2025 quickly circulated among nature lovers, drawing fresh attention to their presence in these urban landscapes.
Field observations in Colombo wetlands also continue to highlight the intelligence of jackals. Naturalist Amila Salgado, a frequent visitor to Bowila wetland, in Kaduwela, found that the wetland is home to a pair of jackals. On a rainy day in October last year, the pair appeared and the female had detected some rodents underground. She signalled to her mate before digging up multiple prey, while the male stayed close and responded to her cues. The episode underscored the species’ coordination and problem-solving ability, Mr.Salgado told the Sunday Times.
Around the world similar species are associated with this same kind of intelligent behaviour, such as the fox in Europe and the coyote in North America. Each culture, it seems, has identified in these adaptable carnivores a certain kind of intelligence; one that is subtle, strategic and at times unsettling. In Sri Lanka too, the jackal’s “cunning” is less about deception and more about survival in a changing landscape, says Mr. Jayaratne.
Despite its adaptability, the jackal is facing a worrying decline in Sri Lanka, with estimates suggesting the population has dropped by as much as 60% over the past two decades, says Prof.Seneviratne. The main drivers include habitat loss as wetlands and scrublands give way to urbanisation, a reduction in prey due to ecosystem degradation and increasing threats such as road-kills and disease transmission from stray dogs.
Ironically, the jackal’s very ability to live close to people exposes it to these dangers, showing that even a highly intelligent and adaptable species can struggle to survive amid rapid environmental change, Prof.Seneviratne told the SundayTimes.
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