A pack of wolves has killed 10 people, including nine children, in Maharishi Tehsil in Uttar Pradesh's Balich district over the past 50 days, raising urgent questions about what drives these animals to pose a threat to human life.
A global study conducted by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research from 2002 to 2020 concluded that the risk of wolf attacks was “above zero, but impracticably low.” Research shows that during this period, there were only 26 fatal wolf attacks on humans around the world. Of these, four are in India.
So, what exactly happened to Balechi’s wolf?
Among the many conjectures, the most popular seems to be the revenge theory. “The first thing we should understand is that wolves don't live in forests; they live in forests.” They are social animals that have lived in human habitats for centuries. They rely on humans for food, whether they prey on pets such as goats, rabbits and rodents, or feed on dead animals. The question now is, what makes the wolves of Balechi cannibals? Based on my more than thirty years of experience as a forester, I believe that wolves are among the most intelligent animals, and what makes them different and even scarier than other predators is their tendency to retaliate. This may sound a little strange, but it's true.
Pathak recalled two significant periods in Uttar Pradesh's history marked by wolf attacks on children – the first in the mid-1990s and the second in 2003. In Pujhar, wolves attacked nearly 12 children. Later it was discovered that the farmer discovered a nest of wolf pups in a shallow hole while working in the fields by the river. Fearing the wolves, they threw their cubs into the fire, which angered the wolves and caused them to attack children in a nearby village. A similar incident occurred in Balrampur district in 2003, when wolves targeted children after their habitat was destroyed by farmers.
“These actions have angered the wolves, with tragic consequences for children in the affected areas,” Pathak explained, emphasizing the deadly consequences of human interference with wildlife.
In addition to Pathak, some foresters believe that habitat loss and a love of human flesh may have turned wolves into man-eaters.
“Wolves are not generally known for attacking humans, even though they have coexisted with us in the same areas for centuries. However, these attacks can occur when wolves accidentally prey on children. Once a wolf gets a taste of human flesh, especially that of a child, It may develop a preference for it. The soft flesh and fragility of children make them easier prey compared to other animals, which may lead to wolves becoming man-eaters,” said the Balaichi Divisional Forest Officer in charge of Operation Bhediya. (DFO) Ajeet Pratap Singh says 'Go catch the lost wolf.
There are less than 100 wolves in Uttar Pradesh, and less than 3,000 across India. The highest concentrations of wolves are in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Wolves are listed as a Schedule 1 species under India's Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which gives them the highest level of protection.
Meanwhile, some foresters noted that the pack leader, who is usually responsible for hunting, has not yet been captured, so attacks are continuing.
“Wolves live in a group, the leaders are the parents and they alone hunt. Therefore, the killing will not end until the attackers are identified and caged. The three or four wolves captured so far may Not attackers,” said a senior forest official.
On August 29, the forestry department successfully captured a killer wolf, bringing the total number of trapped wolves to four. However, two man-eating wolves are still lingering.
The UP forest department and district administration have deployed over 250 staff, including 150 forest officials, and installed four traps, besides using three sets of thermal imaging drones to track the remaining wolves. The man-eating wolves keep up at night sleepless nights for more than 50,000 people living in as many as 25 to 30 villages in the Maharishi Tehsilhadi district of Baraich.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued an emergency advisory directing authorities to take all necessary steps to capture man-eating wolves.
