The child-killing wolves sparking panic in India

In India, there has been a troubling situation involving wolves attacking children, causing widespread fear among villagers. A tragic incident occurred on the night of August 17, when a four-year-old girl named Sandhya was sleeping outside her home in Uttar Pradesh. Her mother, Sunita, recalls the terrifying moment when the power went out, plunging the village into darkness. 'The wolves attacked within two minutes of the lights going out. By the time we realised what was happening, they had taken her away,' she said. The next day, Sandhya's body was discovered in a nearby sugarcane field, about 500 meters from her home. This was not an isolated case; earlier in the month, an eight-year-old boy named Utkarsh was nearly taken by a wolf while he slept under a mosquito net. His mother spotted the wolf creeping into their hut and screamed, 'Leave my son alone! ' Fortunately, her neighbors rushed in, and the wolf fled. Since mid-April, wolves have been terrorizing around 30 villages in Bahraich district, which is near the border with Nepal. So far, nine children and one adult have been killed, with the youngest victim being just one year old and the oldest a 45-year-old woman. Additionally, at least 34 others have been injured. The fear in these villages is palpable, as many homes lack proper locks, leading parents to keep their children indoors at night. Men are taking turns patrolling the dimly lit streets to ensure safety. In response to the crisis, authorities have deployed drones and cameras, set traps, and used firecrackers to scare the wolves away. So far, three wolves have been captured and relocated to zoos. Attacks on humans by wolves are extremely rare, and most of the time, they involve wolves that are infected with rabies, a viral disease that affects the brain and nervous system. A rabid wolf may attack multiple times without consuming its victims. A study conducted by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research reported 489 'relatively reliable cases' of wolf attacks in 21 countries, including India, between 2002 and 2020. Out of these, only 26 were fatal. In North America, there have been only two confirmed cases of wolf-related fatalities in the past 50 years, despite a population of approximately 70,000 wolves. The question arises: why are wolves attacking humans in Bahraich? The region is situated between a river and forests, making it a traditional habitat for wolves. The Ghaghara river, which runs through the area, is prone to seasonal flooding. Heavy rains during the monsoon season have altered the landscape significantly, causing the swollen river to inundate the forests. This flooding may be driving the wolves into human settlements in search of food and water. Indian wolves typically prey on animals such as black bucks and hares. Climate change can gradually affect the environment, but sudden flooding can disrupt habitats, forcing wolves to seek food in places where people live. This situation raises the question of why children are becoming targets for hungry wolves. An investigation into wolf attacks in Uttar Pradesh villages in 1996 revealed that many of the victims were from impoverished single-parent households, often led by mothers. In these poor villages, livestock is often better protected than children. When a hungry wolf encounters vulnerable children, they become more likely targets. 'Nowhere else in the world have we witnessed surges of wolf attacks on children,' said Yadvendradev Jhala, a prominent Indian scientist and conservationist. The current wave of wolf attacks in Uttar Pradesh is possibly the fourth such occurrence in four decades. In 1981-82, wolf attacks in Bihar resulted in the deaths of at least 13 children. Between 1993 and 1995, another 80 children were attacked by what were believed to be five wolf packs in Hazaribagh district. The deadliest episode occurred over eight months in 1996, when at least 76 children from more than 50 villages in Uttar Pradesh were attacked, leading to 38 fatalities. The killings ceased after authorities killed 11 wolves, which the media labeled as 'man-eating' wolves. The recent attacks have reignited fears among villagers in Bahraich. Mr. Jhala and his colleague Dinesh Kumar Sharma conducted a thorough investigation into the 1996 killings, examining remains, wolf hair, and other evidence. The current attacks bear a striking resemblance to their findings from nearly 30 years ago. In both cases, children were killed and partially consumed, showing bite marks and puncture wounds. Most attacks occurred at night, with children sleeping outdoors being taken away. Victims were often found in open areas like farms or meadows. Like Bahraich today, the 1996 attacks took place in villages near riverbanks, surrounded by rice and sugarcane fields. Both situations involved crowded villages with many vulnerable children from poor farming families, increasing the risk of attacks. It remains unclear whether the ongoing attacks are the work of a single wolf or a pack. Based on his extensive research, Mr. Jhala believes that a lone wolf, similar to the one responsible for the 1996 attacks, is likely behind the recent killings. Villagers have reported seeing groups of five to six wolves during the day, while the mother of eight-year-old Utkarsh, who survived, witnessed a single wolf entering her home and attacking her son. For centuries, humans and wolves in India coexisted peacefully, thanks to the traditional tolerance of pastoralist communities. However, the recent surge in attacks has raised new concerns. Wildlife experts like Mr. Jhala recommend that children in the affected villages stay indoors, sleep between adults if housing is inadequate, and be accompanied by an adult when going to the toilet at night. Villagers should avoid letting children roam unsupervised in areas where wolves might be hiding and appoint night watchmen to patrol the streets. 'Until we determine the exact reasons behind these attacks, these precautions are crucial to keep people safe,' Mr. Jhala advises. Meanwhile, the people of Bahraich remain on edge every night, living in fear of further attacks.