The forest department of Uttar Pradesh has been forced to take lethal action in Bahraich, shooting dead two wolves within 24 hours amid a severe escalation in human-animal conflict. This comes against a grim backdrop where wolf attacks have claimed the lives of 12 children and left another 12 injured over the past three months.
Back-to-Back Neutralisations in Kaiserganj Range
Officials reported that a four-year-old female wolf was killed during a forest department operation on Tuesday. This incident occurred just a day after a male wolf of similar age was shot dead in an encounter. The female wolf was spotted around noon during a patrol in Birja Pakadiya village, which falls under the Kaiserganj forest range.
Forest teams initially attempted to cordon off the area and rescue the animal. However, as per standard protocol, they proceeded with neutralisation when the situation was deemed to pose a potential risk to human life. The wolf was later found dead, and its carcass was moved to the divisional forest office in Bahraich for a post-mortem examination scheduled for Wednesday.
A Rising Toll of Fatalities and Injuries
The killing of the male wolf on Tuesday followed the tragic death of a three-year-old boy named Anshu, who was mauled to death by a wild animal in Rasoolpur village under the Fakharpur police station limits a week prior. Officials stated the child was attacked while playing near his house, an event that spread panic across nearby villages.
These latest incidents bring the total number of wolves killed by forest teams in the region to eight over the past three months. This period has seen a horrifying symmetry in casualties, with attacks resulting in a dozen child fatalities and an equal number of injuries.
Intensified Measures and Public Advisory
Senior forest officials have acknowledged the grave situation in Bahraich district. In response, they have ramped up efforts to contain the crisis. The strategy now includes:
- Intensified ground patrolling by forest teams.
- Deployment of cage traps to capture animals without harm.
- Drone-based night surveillance to track wolf movement.
- Continuous monitoring in villages identified as vulnerable.
Authorities revealed that both wolves were tracked using a combination of field intelligence and drone surveillance but managed to flee into open fields before the encounters. The department has issued a strong advisory to residents, urging them to remain extremely cautious. The public is advised to avoid venturing out alone after dusk and to keep children indoors as much as possible while the operation to manage the escalating threat continues.
