Month-Long Operation in Bahraich:  Fifth wolf captured, hunt on for last one

Manoj Sonkar, Conservator of Forests, Devipatan, said the female wolf killed a goat in a neighbouring village on Monday night. After receiving the information, a forest department team began tracking the wolf using thermal cameras, drones, and its pugmarks. “We set a trap and captured the animal with a net when it returned to Sisai Churamani village,” Sonkar said.

The previous four wolves were also caught in or near Sisai Churamani village.

A large-scale hunt is still underway to locate the last remaining wolves from the pack.

Over the past two months, the wolves have killed seven children and a 45-year-old woman and injured 18 others. The most recent attack occurred last week in Girdhar Purva village, where a wolf injured a 15-year-old girl who was sleeping beside her grandmother under a mosquito net outside their home. Other family members were also sleeping nearby, both inside and outside the house.

Of the eight reported deaths, the forest department has expressed doubts about two cases due to the lack of clear signs of wolf attacks. An inquiry is underway to determine if there was any foul play in these incidents.

Based on photos and videos captured by drones equipped with thermal cameras, the forest department believes six wolves are responsible for the attacks. However, villagers claim that two dozen wolves may be involved, citing frequent sightings of the animals in nearby fields.

In the month-long Operation Bhediya, the forest department has successfully captured five wolves—two males and three females—and continues to search for the remaining one. The first wolf was caught on August 3.