Jackal or pet dog? Animal cremated by forest dept lands into identity dispute

Time of India

02-07-2025

Barwani: What started as a routine wildlife protocol of disposing of a road kill spiralled into a heated dispute over species identification, leaving a grieving dog owner demanding answers and forest officials standing firm on their scientific assessment.
The controversy began on June 28 when a dead canine was discovered on Baradwari Road in Sendhwa town.
Following standard procedure, forest department officials conducted a postmortem examination through veterinarians, who identified the carcass as a 5-year-old female jackal. The animal was subsequently cremated in Sali Kala forest area, with its viscera preserved for further examination - all according to established wildlife protocols.
But the story took an unexpected turn when photographs of the deceased canine began circulating on social media. Dr Gangaram Singoria, a progressive farmer from Sendhwa area, saw the images and was struck by a devastating recognition. He claimed the animal was not a wild jackal, but his beloved pet German Shepherd 'Delfi.'
"On the night of June 27, my German Shepherd pet 'Delfi' ran away somewhere due to the noise of crackers during a kid's birthday," Singoria explained.
"The next day, I came to know that the forest department cremated an animal, but when I saw its photos, it became clear that it was my pet."
Singoria believes his pet, terrorized by the local fear of dogs in the area, was beaten to death by unknown individuals. "Due to the terror of dogs in the area, my pet was beaten to death by unknown people. Upon receiving the information, the forest department cremated it, claiming it to be a female jackal," he stated.
The grieving pet owner has mounted a determined campaign to prove his case. He received his two German Shepherd puppies as gifts 12 years ago and has been comparing photographs of the dead animal with pictures of Delfi when she was alive. These images have been shared with media outlets and circulated on social media as evidence of his claim.
Singoria has formally challenged the forest department's identification, writing detailed letters pointing out discrepancies in "shape, weight, and other things."
However, he alleges that officials are refusing to provide the information he has requested.
The forest department, however, remains unwavering in its assessment. DFO Sendhwa IS Gadria said that proper procedures were followed throughout. "According to the report of veterinarians, it was a 5-year-old female jackal, and being a wild animal, it was cremated as per the rules. Its viscera was preserved and sent for examination," he said.
Forest department ranger MS Mandloi issued a press note reaffirming the department's stance. The note clarified that the postmortem examination was conducted by qualified veterinarians who declared the animal to be a female jackal, providing an official postmortem examination report to support their conclusion.
Mandloi's statement included a crucial procedural point: "If it had been a bitch, then the forest department wasn't supposed to cremate it" - highlighting that their cremation of the animal was specifically done because they identified it as wildlife requiring such protocol.
The dispute has created an unusual standoff between scientific assessment and emotional conviction. On one side stands the forest department with veterinary expertise, official procedures, and postmortem reports. On the other is a pet owner armed with photographs, personal knowledge of his animal, and the heartbreak of losing a 12-year-old companion.