A surge in wolf attacks in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district has instilled fear among villagers, as a pack of wolves continues to prey on small children. Since March, nine people, including eight children, have lost their lives, while 20 others have been injured in these incidents. The wolves, often striking at night, target children sleeping next to their mothers inside their homes. In the most recent case on September 1, a toddler was killed, and two others were injured, marking the third attack in 24 hours. So far, officials have managed to capture four wolves, but efforts to locate two more are still ongoing.
Local authorities and the forest department are struggling to capture the wolves due to their habit of frequently changing locations. This constant movement makes it challenging for officials to monitor and track them. Unlike tigers and leopards, which are easier to identify, distinguishing individual wolves within a pack is far more difficult, adding to the complexity of the operation. In response, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the forest minister to deploy additional forest guards and increase the number of trap teams in the affected areas to intensify the capture efforts.
In response to the escalating wolf attacks, the Uttar Pradesh government has launched “Operation Bhediya” to capture the wolves in Bahraich’s Mehsi tehsil. The operation includes 150 personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), aided by drones and cameras, patrolling the affected areas. Alongside them, 30 teams from the revenue department and 25 from the forest department are actively working on the ground. Traditional deterrents, such as elephant dung and urine, as well as firecrackers and bright lights, have seen some success in keeping the wolves at bay. Meanwhile, villagers remain on high alert, staying awake through the night and arming themselves with sticks to protect their families and homes.
Bahraich villages have become increasingly vulnerable due to the swelling Ghaghara river, which has forced wolves out of their natural habitat in the nearby forests. As the animals venture closer to human settlements in search of food, the number of attacks has risen. This area has a long history of wolf attacks, with the most severe occurring in 1997 in Jaunpur, where 42 children were killed. Similar incidents took place in Rae Bareli in 2000 and in Gonda and Balrampur in 2003. Despite being a known habitat for wolves, Bahraich had not seen such attacks in over 20 years.
While wolf attacks on humans are uncommon, these predators are increasingly targeting children, who are vulnerable due to their smaller size and limited ability to defend themselves. The crossbreeding of wolves with local dogs might have led to greater comfort with human environments. In some impoverished families, the inability to install protective doors despite official safety warnings has exacerbated the risk.
As the situation worsens, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has authorised a shoot-on-sight directive for the remaining wolves after previous capture efforts proved unsuccessful. According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the state’s chief wildlife warden has the authority to permit the hunting of animals deemed dangerous to human life or those that are beyond recovery due to injury or disease.
Indian wolves usually act as scavengers, but in times of limited natural food sources, they may target livestock, causing conflicts with human populations. In Bahraich, the escalating situation has prompted both the government and local residents to take urgent measures to avert additional tragedies.
