In a late-night operation on Thursday, a specialized team from the forest department shot and killed a wolf in the riverine belt of the Saryu river in Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh. This marks the ninth wolf to be eliminated by authorities in the district within a span of just three months, officials confirmed.
Operation Triggered by Proximity to Human Habitations
The large-scale combing operation was launched amid a state of heightened alert. The decision came after the department received repeated reports of wolf movement dangerously close to villages situated along the river. Bahraich's Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Sundaresha, stated that specific intelligence about a wolf's presence in Bhirgu Purwa village, under the Kaiserganj forest range, was received on Wednesday evening.
Given the immediate threat to nearby settlements, a trained combing team was swiftly deployed to the area. The personnel conducted an intensive search, venturing nearly 4 kilometres into the kachhar (riverine) belt and laying multiple traps to capture the animal.
Drone Surveillance and a Dramatic Riverbed Chase
The operation leveraged modern technology, with continuous aerial monitoring provided by drones. Ground teams simultaneously tracked the wolf's movements across the sandy terrain of the Saryu riverbed. During the pursuit, the animal briefly got caught in one of the traps but managed to break free, leading to an extended chase along the river.
Forest officials explained that after repeated attempts to capture the wolf alive proved unsuccessful, the team had to make a critical decision. Assessing the persistent and significant risk to human life, trained shooters were authorized to cordon off the area and neutralize the animal following established safety protocols.
The carcass of the wolf was recovered from the riverbed late at night and sent to the concerned range office for post-mortem examination. DFO Sundaresha confirmed that the killed animal was a three-year-old male wolf.
Mounting Toll and a Search for Scientific Answers
The context for this aggressive action is a severe and tragic spike in human-wolf conflict in the region. Over the past three months, wolf attacks have claimed the lives of 12 children and left another 12 injured. The killing of this wolf brings the total number of wolves killed by the forest department in the same period to nine.
DFO Sundaresha emphasized that the department's priority extends beyond immediate response. He told the Times of India that there is a focused effort to scientifically examine the sudden surge in wolf attacks in Bahraich. "We are trying to rope in non-government organisations and conduct detailed research into the behaviour of these animals. We are also in talks with the Wildlife Institute of India to carry out a comprehensive study," he said.
He also referenced a theory proposed by some scientists who visited the district last year, suggesting that cross-breeding between wolves and local dogs might be a factor behind the recent aggressive behaviour. However, he stressed that such conclusions require thorough scientific validation.
Parallel to these research efforts, the forest department is working on creating awareness among villagers about wolf behaviour and necessary safety precautions to mitigate conflict. Moving forward, officials stated that intensified surveillance, drone monitoring, and sustained combing operations will continue in wolf-prone areas of the district to ensure the safety of residents living near the riverine belt.
