Wolves attack in India result in deaths of 9 people, mostly children

Authorities in India have begun using drones to monitor wolf activity after recent attacks claimed the lives of nine people, mostly children, according to officials on Sunday. The most recent casualty was a 10-month-old girl in Bahraich district, northern Uttar Pradesh, who was taken by a wolf while sleeping beside her mother on Saturday. Her body was later discovered in a nearby field.

Earlier, a five-year-old boy was seized in front of his mother outside their home and was later found fatally injured in a sugarcane field. Officials noted that these incidents follow a pattern observed in several villages since September. With these latest fatalities, the death toll in Bahraich due to suspected wolf attacks has reached at least nine in the past three months, including an elderly couple.

Forest Officer Ram Singh Yadav told AFP that authorities have deployed drones, camera traps, and shooters to manage the situation. "The wolves behavior seems to be changing. Recently, they have been active during the day, which is unusual," Yadav explained. Other forest officials added that the animals are displaying unusually bold behavior.

Bahraich experienced a similar series of attacks last year, when a wolf pack killed nine people, including very young children, and injured several others. Authorities at that time advised residents not to sleep outdoors or move around alone at night. However, many homes lack doors or indoor toilets, forcing people to go outside at night.

The districts grassland plains are located about 30 miles south of the Nepalese border, where dense forests cover the Himalayan foothills. Experts say wolves generally attack humans or livestock only when other food sources are scarce, usually preferring small antelopes. Most of Indias roughly 3,000 wolves live outside protected areas, often close to human settlements.

Known as the plains wolf and classified as vulnerable, these wolves are smaller than the Himalayan wolf and can be mistaken for other species like jackals. Residents of Bahraich now report living in constant fear of wolves near their homes. "Our children are not safe even inside the house," one local said.

While attacks from tigers, leopards, and elephants are relatively common in India, wolf attacks are rare. Between 2018 and 2022, tiger attacks alone caused over 300 deaths. Experts attribute the rise in human-wildlife encounters to expanding settlements, which reduce natural habitats and hunting areas for wild animals.

Author: Sophia Brooks