Jackals in protest

There were recent reports about jackals (Nari or Hivallu) attacking villagers. Even nations, and boxers, know that attack is the best form of defence and so do animals, including cobras and other crawly creatures, like serpents. So, it is obvious why these jackals have attacked villagers. They, too, like to live and let live, if left alone, unlike ferocious animals, like leopards and tigers. Jackals are mainly scavengers and not man-eaters. There are no foxes or wolves in our country.

As recently as 65 – 70 years ago, in places about 25 – 30 miles away from Colombo, howling of jackals could be heard in the night. As children lived 27 miles out of Colombo, and frequently heard these howls, and our elders would ask us not to be frightened.

This was in the Gampaha District, 11 miles inland from Negombo and even then fairly well populated. Of course, there were the village drunkards and our neighbour was one of them, and we heard him bursting into songs, practically every night, after a good tot of kasippu (there was no kudu then). Whether the jackals were joining him, or howling because they were disturbed, we do not know.

The main reason, as I could see, why these innocent animals attack the villagers is due to the village “Chandiyas” trying to impress the other villagers that they are brave men, by going in groups with big poles. Now it is easy to see who the real culprits are. These Nariyas can’t afford to go on demonstrations carrying placards and blaming their MPs and government officials, unlike the two-legged Nari, even though there are some MPs and officials who belong to their own species!

ND