A jaw-dropping video from Chhattisgarh has taken social media by storm, featuring a tiger and its improbable pal, a jackal, strolling together on a busy road. The clip, filmed in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district along the Amarkantak Jwaleshwar route, captures the duo’s casual jaunt amid the night, defying typical predator-prey dynamics.
Local teacher Yogesh Bisen stumbled upon this surreal scene while heading back from Amarkantak with his family late on February 5. Spotting the tiger dominating the road’s center, he halted his car and began recording. To his amazement, a jackal appeared nearby, following the tiger’s path without fear or aggression.
Barbed wire fences on either side prevented the tiger from venturing off the road, leading it to repeatedly turn back and forth. The jackal, undaunted, kept pace, creating a scene straight out of a wildlife documentary. The video’s crisp footage reveals the animals’ relaxed demeanor, sparking discussions among netizens about possible friendships in the wild.
Wildlife biologists note that jackals often scavenge in tiger territories and may habituate to their presence over time. This particular road, cutting through dense forests, frequently sees wildlife crossings, but harmonious pairings like this are uncommon. Authorities are now patrolling the stretch to mitigate human-animal conflicts.
The footage serves as a captivating reminder of nature’s mysteries, urging greater awareness for road safety in wildlife corridors. As the video racks up views, it amplifies calls for better conservation efforts to protect these majestic creatures and their surprising social bonds.