First camera-trap evidence of dermatological lesions consistent with sarcoptic mange in golden jackal (Canis aureus) from Terai Arc Landscape, Nepal

In the wild, health is often a silent story written on the skin. For many animals, a change in their coat or the texture of their skin can be the first sign of a serious illness, one that might spread quietly through a population before anyone notices. This is particularly true for sarcoptic mange, a contagious skin disease caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin, causing intense itching, hair loss, and inflammation. While this condition is well-known in domestic dogs and has been seen in animals like red foxes, it remains a mystery in many wild species, especially in regions where scientists have few tools to watch them closely. In places where wild animals and domestic dogs share the same water sources and grazing lands, the risk of these diseases jumping from one to the other is high, yet the evidence is often hard to find without disturbing the animals.

In the grasslands and forest edges of Nepal's Terai Arc Landscape, researchers recently turned to a quiet, non-invasive method to look for these hidden health issues. Instead of chasing animals or setting traps that might harm them, they used camera traps—motion-sensing cameras that snap photos whenever an animal passes by. In April 2024, at a restored wetland in the Nawalpur District, these cameras captured something significant: the first photographic record of a wild golden jackal showing clear signs of this skin disease. The golden jackal, a flexible and common predator in Nepal, was photographed with large patches of missing fur, revealing red and rough skin underneath. This discovery, made entirely through the lens of a camera, offers a rare glimpse into the health of wild canids in a region where such data has been scarce.

The cameras were set up along a small, artificial water catchment that serves as a vital resource for wildlife during the dry season. Over a period of two weeks, the devices recorded hundreds of images of various animals, including deer, mongooses, and peafowl. Among these, a golden jackal appeared on four separate occasions. On one of those days, the animal was captured in a series of photos that told a troubling story. The jackal had lost most of the fur on its back and sides, leaving the skin exposed. The skin itself looked red and uneven, a classic sign of the irritation caused by mange. Despite these visible wounds, the animal moved with purpose and seemed alert, suggesting that the disease was in an early or moderate stage rather than a terminal one. The researchers noted that the pattern of hair loss was slightly different from what is typically seen in other canids, which often lose fur first around the ears and belly, but the overall picture was consistent with a mange infection.

What makes this finding particularly important is the context in which it happened. The same cameras that spotted the sick jackal also recorded free-roaming domestic dogs visiting the water source on many of the same days. In fact, dogs were present on more than half of the survey days, and on two of those days, they were there at the same time as the jackal. This overlap is critical because domestic dogs are known carriers of the mites that cause mange, and they can easily pass the infection to wild animals when they share the same space. The presence of both species at a single, crowded water hole creates a perfect setting for disease to spread. The researchers observed that the jackal was not alone; another healthy jackal was seen nearby, hinting that the disease could move through the local jackal population if it is not monitored.

The study does not claim to have proven the diagnosis beyond doubt, as the researchers did not capture the animal to take a skin sample for laboratory testing. Without that physical confirmation, they cannot rule out other skin conditions that might look similar. However, the visual evidence is strong enough to suggest a high probability of sarcoptic mange. The pattern of hair loss, the redness of the skin, and the fact that the animal was still active all align with what is known about the disease in its earlier stages. This observation fills a gap in our knowledge, as there were no previous records of mange in golden jackals in Nepal. It serves as a warning that diseases are moving across the boundary between the wild and the domestic, and that the health of wild animals is often tied to the health of the dogs living nearby.

This discovery highlights the value of using camera traps not just to count animals or track their movements, but to monitor their health. In areas where resources are limited and capturing wild animals is difficult or dangerous, these cameras provide a way to spot problems early. The researchers emphasize that while this single image is a starting point, it points to a larger need for systematic health monitoring in Nepal. As human activity and livestock grazing continue to overlap with wildlife habitats, the chances for diseases to jump between species will likely increase. By watching these shared spaces, scientists can learn more about how illnesses spread and how to protect both the wild jackals and the domestic dogs that share their world. The photo of the jackal is more than just a record of a sick animal; it is a signal that the health of the entire ecosystem is connected, and that paying attention to the small details on an animal's skin can reveal big truths about the landscape they inhabit.