The Jackal Showed Up. I Almost Didn't

I was supposed to feel something when we spotted the jackal. The first-ever, they said. A positive sign. I nodded, took the notes, pretended it mattered more than the exhaustion gnawing at my bones. Everyone else saw hope—biodiversity, ecosystem balance, a win for conservation. I saw another data point, another report to file, another reminder that the marshland is thriving while I’m barely treading water. I used to believe these sightings meant something. Now, I just wonder how much longer I can keep pretending I do too. The jackal adapts. I just survive. #Science #ScienceFatigue #ConservationBurnout