Authorities in Uttar Pradesh state have launched a manhunt after a pack of wolves killed eight people and injured dozens.
Forest officials in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have launched a manhunt for a pack of wolves that have terrorized dozens of villages in the past few weeks, killing seven children and a woman and injuring more than 25 people in Bahriach district, Indian media reported on August 30.
On hot summer nights, people in the area often sleep in hammocks and on mats in their yards, making them vulnerable to wolf attacks. Rangers and police have used UAVs equipped with thermal cameras to track the animals.
After a 72-hour operation involving 25 teams, authorities captured four wolves and are tracking the remaining two. The captured animals are expected to be transferred to a zoo.
A wolf was captured and caged in northern India after the operation. Video: X/YEAR
Other teams have implemented a range of local prevention measures, such as installing gates, advising people not to sleep outdoors, and raising awareness about the dangers of wolves.
According to locals, wolves even enter houses to snatch children.
“The wolf broke into the house and dragged my son away. I tried my best to save him by pulling the wolf’s legs but failed. The animal dragged the boy about 200 meters to a field. When I shouted, the villagers gathered to search for him and the wolf left the boy behind,” said the mother of a 7-year-old victim. The boy survived after 13 days of treatment.
The wolf was captured and caged in northern India after the operation. Photo: NDTV
According to conservation expert Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala, interbreeding of wolves and domestic dogs could be the reason for the increase in attacks.
“These new wolves may no longer be afraid of humans. The lack of toilets in rural India also plays a role, as people and children often defecate in fields, increasing the risk of wolf attacks,” said Mr. Jhala.