Authorities in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh are hunting for a pack of wolves that has killed eight people and injured 25 others, terrorizing dozens of villages in recent weeks.
Local media reported on 30 August 2024 that four wolves were caught in a 72-hour operation by 25 teams, of which two escaped but are under constant surveillance.
Advanced drone technology and tranquilizers were used by forest department and police personnel to capture the wolves.
Authorities have also taken measures to protect the affected villages, including reinforcing doors and raising vigilance among local residents.
According to villagers interviewed by India Today, the wolves entered houses and took children. “I tried to save my son Firoz by pulling the wolf’s leg but failed. The wolf dragged him about 200 metres to the fields. When I raised the alarm, villagers gathered and the wolf eventually left him in the fields in an injured condition. He was later taken to hospital. “After 13 days of treatment, Firoz recovered,” the mother of a 7-year-old boy told reporters.
Before the hunt began, local residents had organized night patrols. Parents in the area stopped sending their children to school and women were advised to stay indoors.
Conservationist Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala said the increase in attacks could be due to crossbreeding between wolves and wild dogs. “Such wolves are likely to lose their fear of humans, which could be dangerous when they come into contact with humans,” Jhala argued.
