Bhediya panic shakes Bahraich, nine people killed, four wolves caught, hunt for more continues

UP Wolf News: Forest and Environment Minister Arun Kumar Saxena announced the deployment of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) forces to villages in Tehsil Mahsi where wolf attacks have occurred since March, killing at least nine people, mostly children.

On the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Saxena visited the affected areas in Bahraich district on Wednesday. During his visit, he spoke to local officials and public representatives to assess the situation.

Saxena assured residents that the forest department was determined to capture the man-eating wolves responsible for the attacks. He visited Kolaila hamlet in Sisaiya Churamani village where he met the family of an eight-year-old boy who was killed in a wolf attack on August 3. The minister urged locals to remain alert while working in fields and advised against defecating and sleeping in the open.

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To enhance security, Saxena directed the forest officials to prepare a comprehensive plan to capture the dangerous wolves. He mentioned that work is underway to improve lighting in the area and provide toilets and security gates for the local residents. He further confirmed that adequate police force is present and the forest teams are working with the local staff to keep the predators at bay. The minister noted that PAC forces have been called in to ensure the safety of the community.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, a pack of wolves has killed nine animals since March, including eight children aged eight or younger. Despite the deployment of several forest department teams equipped with CCTV cameras, thermal imaging cameras and drones, the attacks continued. In the last 40 days alone, seven deaths were reported in Mahsi tehsil and over 40 people were injured in the areas covered by Hardi and Khairighat police stations.

UP News: Three wolves caught

So far, three wolves have been caught from the pack. Ajit Pratap Singh, Bahraich Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), said the attacks are taking place within a radius of three to ten kilometers and affecting about fifty villages.

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Gyan Prakash Singh, former DFO of Katarnighat and currently senior consultant at Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), suspects that past mistakes may have contributed to the rise in wolf attacks. He explained that two wolves captured in Mahsi tehsil last year were released in Chakiya forest area. Singh warned that these wolves may have returned and are now posing a threat to local residents.

He recommended using trap nets instead of cages, as wolves are less attracted to bait than goats. Singh recalled a similar situation in Jaunpur, where 76 children were killed by wolves within a few months. He explained that wolves usually avoid attacking the same village where they have previously killed a victim, and suggested that they move quietly within a two- to ten-kilometer radius in search of new prey.