Fresh Wolf Attack Shakes Bahraich Community
A five-year-old boy has become the latest victim in a suspected wolf attack in Bahraich's Kaiserganj tehsil, reigniting fear across the region and forcing forest officials to resume their operations barely two weeks after declaring the threat neutralized.
Forest Department Returns to Field
The tragic incident occurred on Friday evening in Malhan Purva village when the child was attacked near his home. According to officials, the boy was discovered with severe injuries inside a sugarcane field, just a short distance from his residence.
The child was initially taken to a nearby hospital, but doctors referred him to the district hospital for advanced care. After receiving first aid, medical professionals recommended transferring him to Lucknow for further treatment. Tragically, the boy succumbed to his injuries during the journey.
Renewed Operations and Evidence Found
This latest death has compelled the forest team to return to duty, despite having concluded their operation and being relieved from service after the fourth wolf was eliminated on November 15. The department had previously claimed to have eliminated a pack of four wolves responsible for killing at least eight people and injuring nearly 30 others over recent months.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Bahraich, Ram Singh Yadav, confirmed that forest teams have discovered wolf pugmarks in the area, indicating the presence of at least one animal. "We are using drones to monitor the surrounding villages and fields," Yadav stated. "Two to three local residents have also claimed to have seen the animal."
History of Wolf Attacks in Kaiserganj
The current wave of wolf attacks in Kaiserganj began on September 9 when a child was killed in Paragpurwa village. The most recent incident before the current case occurred on November 13, when a wolf allegedly dragged away a four-year-old girl. One victim's body from previous attacks still remains untraced.
In response to the initial crisis, the Forest Department had launched an intensive operation, dividing the affected region into multiple zones to monitor and track the animals. Working round the clock, the team managed to eliminate four wolves they believed constituted the entire pack responsible for the series of fatal attacks.
The return of forest teams to the field underscores the persistent nature of the threat and the challenges wildlife officials face in managing human-animal conflict in the region.
