Oh, hello there. Yes, I’m talking to you. The one with the camera. You’ve been driving around for hours looking for something, haven’t you? Let me guess. Leopard? Elephant? Sloth bear? Perhaps one of those fancy birds with the enormous beaks? And here I am, standing right in front of you. You’re welcome. Honestly, I sometimes wonder what I have to do to get a little recognition around here. I am, after all, the only wild dog on this island and the third-largest carnivore in Sri Lanka. Third! That’s not exactly a minor-league position. But mention wildlife in Sri Lanka and everybody immediately starts talking about leopards and elephants. I mean, I like them. I really do. Lovely animals. Very impressive. Excellent PR. Me? I prefer to let my work speak for itself. And I do quite a bit of work. You see, I’m rather good at adapting. I can make a living in all sorts of habitats, and I’m not particularly fussy about what opportunities come my way. That makes me a rather useful member of the ecosystem.

It has been well noted that my presence can help keep populations of peafowl and rodents in check, including rodents that cause problems in agricultural areas. So while everyone is busy waiting for a leopard to appear, I might be quietly helping keep the countryside in balance. Not bad for someone who supposedly isn't very interesting, eh?

Here's something you might not know. I was once considered a species unique to Sri Lanka and was given the scientific name Canis lankae. But now, I am classified as a subspecies of the Eurasian Golden Jackal, Canis aureus naria. And before you ask, yes, I know I don't look exactly like some of the jackals you may have seen elsewhere. We Sri Lankan jackals have our own particular look. Our coats tend to be darker along the back, with black and white speckling, while our legs have that lovely rusty-tan colour. I think it suits me rather well. Distinctive. Understated. Very island chic. And here's another little detail: we Sri Lankan jackals can actually grow slightly larger than our mainland relatives in southern India. So, technically, I wasn't exaggerating when I said I have a few things going for me. You really should stop overlooking me. I have a reputation to maintain. So the next time you're out on safari and everyone starts whispering, "Leopard! Leopard!", don't forget to look around. You might find me standing quietly beside the track, wondering what all the fuss is about. And if I happen to look directly at you like this? Well… perhaps I'm wondering the same thing.

While staying at the Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Yala, guests were out on safari when they encountered this Sri Lankan Jackal standing quietly beside the track. Rather than disappearing into the surrounding habitat, the curious animal paused and turned towards the safari vehicle, giving the guests a wonderful opportunity to capture this close-up encounter with one of Sri Lanka's most overlooked carnivores.