Wolves Attack: Nine Killed in Recent Spate of Incidents in India

Recent wolf attacks in northern India have left a tragic toll of nine lives, predominantly children, prompting authorities to take urgent action. In the latest incident, a 10-month-old girl was snatched from her sleeping position beside her mother in Bahraich district, located in Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday. The child was later discovered dead in a nearby field. Just one day prior, a five-year-old boy was abducted in front of his mother from their home, only to be found severely injured in a sugarcane field. He succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.

The series of attacks has followed a disturbing pattern, with multiple reports of similar incidents surfacing since September 2023. According to local police and forest officials, the number of confirmed wolf attacks in Bahraich has reached at least nine over the past three months, raising significant concerns among residents. Among the victims are also an elderly couple, underscoring the widespread fear gripping the community.

Increased Measures to Combat Wolf Threat

In response to the growing crisis, forest rangers have implemented a range of strategies, including the deployment of drones, camera traps, and trained shooters in the area. Ram Singh Yadav, a local forest officer, stated, “The behavior of wolves seems to have changed. Of late, they are seen active in daytime, which is strange.” Other officials noted that the wolves appear bolder than usual, raising alarms about their proximity to human habitation.

Bahraich has experienced similar waves of wolf attacks in the past. Last year, a pack of wolves killed at least nine people, including a one-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl, with several others injured. During that time, authorities urged residents to avoid sleeping outdoors and to refrain from moving about at night. Unfortunately, many homes in the area lack proper doors, and residents often have no choice but to venture outside after dark.

The region surrounding Bahraich, situated about 30 miles south of the Nepal border, is characterized by lush grassland plains and dense forests in the nearby Himalayan foothills. Experts suggest that wolves generally only attack humans or livestock as a last resort, often driven to such behavior by starvation. They typically prefer less dangerous prey, such as small antelopes.

Community Fear and Habitat Encroachment

Villagers in Bahraich are living in constant fear of the wolves lurking near their homes. One resident expressed the community’s anguish, saying, “Our children are not safe even inside the house. We just want the attacks to stop.” While incidents of big cats and elephants attacking humans are not uncommon in India, wolf attacks are relatively rare. Between 2018 and 2022, more than 300 people lost their lives in tiger attacks across the country.

The increase in human-wildlife interactions is often attributed to the expansion of towns and villages into wilderness areas, which reduces the natural habitats of various species. As human populations encroach on these territories, the likelihood of encounters with wildlife rises dramatically.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, and the community hopes that increased measures will help to prevent further tragedies. With the recent attacks highlighting vulnerabilities in rural living conditions, the ongoing challenge of coexisting with wildlife remains a pressing issue for the residents of Bahraich.

Arshad R. Zargar contributed to this report.