Early risers out on a stroll inside a suburban housing complex in Calcutta on Tuesday saved a Golden Jackal from being killed by some panicky residents after the animal was found with its hind legs entangled in the branch of a tree.

Mala Ghosh was on her usual morning walk at Fortune Township in Kazipara when she and a few others spotted the trapped animal hanging from a Y-shaped branch along the boundary wall. “We had heard what I think was a cross between a whine and the bark of an animal. We followed the sound and saw the jackal, which then greeted us with a growl,” she said.

Fortune Township, around 12km from the airport, was by then buzzing with disparate views about what should be done with the animal. One group of residents allegedly grabbed whatever they could lay their hands on to kill or maim the animal.

Jayanta Saha, a 72-year-old resident, was among those who formed a cordon around the animal to prevent anybody from hurling stones or hitting it with sticks. “The jackal appeared to be in a lot of pain. But several residents said we should kill the animal lest it return to attack people, especially the children of the complex. My father said there was no way we would let anyone harm the jackal,” Jayanta’s daughter, software engineer Jaysmita Saha, said.

At Jayanta’s request, a neighbour called the forest department to take away the jackal.

Ravi Kant Sinha, the chief wildlife warden, said he was delighted to hear about a trapped animal being rescued at Fortune Township. “It shows that awareness about wildlife is going up. Jackals are a part of our ecosystem but their population is diminishing because of habitat destruction.”

The rescued animal was taken to the Wild Animal Rescue and Transit Facility Centre at Baisakhi in Salt Lake.

Deputy ranger Sibananda Joddar said the animal was a young male and had broken its left hind leg. It possibly got trapped while chasing prey at

night.

“The veterinarian who examined the jackal has said that apart from the broken leg, he is healthy,” Joddar said.