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Why are Wolves killing humans in this Uttar Pradesh District?
A group of Wolves have been terrorising the Bahraich District of Uttar Pradesh, India, for the last few months. Calculated attacks have occurred at multiple villages, targeting mostly children and old folk. But why are these animals turning to human beings all of a sudden? And could these attacks signal a greater danger lurking in the shadows?
WILDLIFE
The Thinking Me
9/21/20244 min read
You must have heard that a group of Wolves have been terrorising the Bahraich District of Uttar Pradesh, India, for the last few months. Calculated attacks have occurred at multiple villages, targeting mostly children and old folk.
The first attacks were reported in the middle of April this year and since then, ten people have been killed, nine of whom are children. Many more have been injured, with the Wolves mostly targeting families who sleep out in the open or in poorly protected homes.
Children have been snatched off their beds. People have been attacked on the streets. The animals apparently sneak up on their prey out of nowhere. Sometimes, they emerge out of the shadows and pounce on unsuspecting people. They have shed their inhibitions, and now show no fear. This uncharacteristic behaviour has the whole country in shock, but if you delve deeper, this is actually history repeating itself.
India has a history of Wolf-Human conflict
Wolf attacks on human are extremely rare, especially since these animals have learnt to co-exist with man over centuries. They have lived at the threshold of human settlements, feasting on Black Buck, Chinkara and Hare.
However, there have been episodes when Wolves have turned to human prey, especially in poor Indian villages where children could be vulnerable. According to reports, 13 children lost their lives to similar attacks in Bihar from 1981 to 1982. A decade later, the Wolves turned to children again in the state. From 1993 to 1995, approximately 80 children were attacked in the Hazaribagh District, with five Wolf packs on the prowl.
Uttar Pradesh also registered the Wolf-Human conflict in 1996, perhaps the most viscous of all the episodes registered to date. Across eight months, around 76 children were attacked in 50 villages, and 38 deaths were reported. 11 Wolves were slaughtered before the killing stopped.
Why are Killer Wolves running rampant in Bahraich District?
Wolves are part of the natural fauna in the Bahraich District. Nestled by the Ghaghara River, this place bas been home to the animals for as long as one can remember. Wolves generally live in holes, but regular floods have displaced them from their natural habitat.
With an acute food shortage in the area, they have turned their attention to the easiest prey available - children. Wolves have been preying on vulnerable children in the district, especially those who stray from their homes unattended. With each passing attack, they have grown in confidence like a true predator.
They have become bolder and have even begun entering homes. With India experiencing a heat wave like never before, people in the villages have been sleeping out in the open, making it easier for the beasts to get to their prey.
Reports suggest that it is a six-wolf pack that has terrorised the region. The Forest Department have already nabbed five of the man-eater wolves, while the hunt for the sixth is on going. Incidentally, one of the animals have died in captivity.
The sixth Wolf has proven to be elusive so far. The authorities have deployed every modern technology available, including CCTV cameras and drones, to capture the beast but their efforts are yet to be successful. Cameras have also been set up at a series of caves in the area believed to be the hideout of the pack.
The lone wolf has shown amazing adaptability and has countered every attempt from the authorities so far. Its actions have suggested that animal are also evolving alongside men in this world.
Killer Wolves a stark reminder of Climate Change?
For centuries, India has resided peacefully with the wolves, but these attacks cannot be ignored anymore. While it is pivotal to take corrective actions and make Bahraich safe again, it is also vital for researchers and Wildlife experts in the country to deduce the reason for this change of behaviour. The fact that this pattern has repeated itself every few decades should also be a cause of concern.
However, these animals have also highlighted that climate change is affecting us all. While we struggle to contain the heat wave yet continue to exploit the planet, these recent incidents could be a reminder that we will be held accountable to our actions.
It is time to understand that we may be the dominant species in the planet, the 'apex predator', but we are not invincible. One shouldn't forget that nature reigns supreme and nature shall have her way if we fail to respect her laws.
For now, though, one can only hope that the final wolf is caught and no more innocent lives are lost in the district of Bahraich.