In Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, a disturbing trend has emerged with wolves turning into man-eaters, attacking 10 people, including nine children, in the last 50 days. This rare and alarming behavior has prompted experts to investigate the possible causes behind these attacks. While global studies suggest wolf attacks on humans are extremely rare, recent events in Bahraich indicate a possible connection to revenge tendencies and habitat loss. The ongoing investigation highlights the complexities of human-wildlife interactions and the urgent need for effective measures to address this issue.

BulletsIn

• In Mahsi tehsil, Bahraich, a pack of wolves has attacked 10 people, including nine children, in the past 50 days.
• A global study from 2002-2020 found only 26 fatal wolf attacks on humans worldwide, with four cases in India.
• Experts speculate that the recent attacks may be driven by a “revenge tendency” among wolves.
• Sanjay Pathak, an experienced forester, suggests that past incidents of humans killing wolf pups provoked attacks on children.
• Ajeet Pratap Singh, DFO Bahraich, notes that once wolves taste human flesh, they might develop a preference for it.
• There are fewer than 100 wolves in Uttar Pradesh and less than 3,000 across India.
• Wolves are protected under Schedule 1 of India’s Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
• Forest officials have managed to trap four wolves but two man-eaters are still at large.
• Over 250 staff members, including 150 forest officials, are involved in tracking and capturing the wolves.
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued an advisory to ensure all necessary measures are taken to address the wolf attacks.