Canis aureus naria is a subspecies of the golden jackal (Canis aureus) native to south-west India and Sri Lanka and is the only wild canid on the island. It is an omnivorous opportunistic feeder consuming a variety of foods including fruit, insects, rodents and small mammals. In areas where the leopard has a restricted distribution, the jackal serves as the top predator, helping to control herbivore populations. This highly adaptable species inhabits a wide range of environments and can coexist in human landscapes. The jackal is gregarious and monogamous, with the basic social unit consisting of a breeding pair and their young offspring.