Following a series of attacks by wolves in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich region, the forest department has come up with a unique method to capture these predators. Over recent months, the area has been plagued by blood-thirsty wolves that have targeted both children and villagers, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. 

To deal with the dangerous situation, the forest department has initiated an innovative approach involving the use of brightly-coloured teddy bears soaked in children's urine as bait. The wolves, known for their nocturnal hunting habits, have been particularly elusive, frequently shifting their locations to avoid capture. 

To counter this challenge, the forest department has placed these colourful teddy bears near riverbanks and close to the wolves' resting places and dens. The teddy bears, soaked in children's urine, are intended to replicate the natural human scent, creating a false sense of human presence that might lure the wolves closer to the traps.

Divisional Forest Officer Ajit Pratap Singh elaborated on the strategy, stating that the wolves typically return to their dens by morning after hunting at night. The department's tactic involves misleading the wolves away from populated areas and guiding them towards traps or cages positioned near their dens. 

To facilitate this process, the team uses thermal drones to track the wolves' movements and employs firecrackers and noise to drive them toward these traps.

Senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Ramesh Kumar Pandey, who brings extensive experience from his work in the Terai forests, provided insight into the baiting techniques used in wildlife capture. 

Pandey compared the teddy bears to false bait, similar in concept to scarecrows used in agriculture to protect crops from birds. Although there is no historical record of such methods being widely successful, Pandey supports the use of innovative techniques to address human-wildlife conflicts.

The situation in Bahraich has become increasingly dire. Since July, a pack of six wolves has reportedly killed six children and one woman, with several villagers also injured. Four of the six wolves have been captured, but the remaining two continue to pose a threat. 

Wolf attack claims yet another life

Meanwhile, late Sunday night, a wolf killed a 3-year-old girl and attacked two women in ​​Bahraich.

The mother of the deceased girl said, "My child was sleeping, the wolf carried her away at around 3 am. There is no door in the house. When my 6-month-old child cried then I came to know that the wolf had carried away my 3-year-old daughter."

Monika Rani, DM Bahraich said, "This incident is of Tepra village. The woman has been injured and is under treatment. The wolf starts its activity after 5-6 days, this is a different village. The biggest hurdle in this operation is every time a new village is marked. The Forest Department is doing its best to catch the wolves."

Agencies